Forest Research

Forest Research (FR) is an agency of the Forestry Commission and is the leading UK organisation engaged in forestry and tree related research. FR provides the science and advice to underpin forestry policy and practice, principally in the UK and on behalf of the Forestry Commission. The Forestry Commission is thus the major customer for FR but in addition, FR has a range of customers from other UK organisations and the Commission of the European Communities (CEC), and our research and development work is often linked with partners and collaborators worldwide. Researchers are experts in forest science and land use and their work focuses on practical solutions to tree, woodland and forest management and sustainability.

FR’s research, surveys and related scientific services address the social, economic and environmental components of sustainability. Projects provide understanding, policy advice and guidelines on implementation of best practice (e.g. on forest hydrology, continuous cover forestry, timber quality, land reclamation to woodland and restoration of native woodlands). Protection of woodlands from pests and diseases, and predicting the impacts of environmental change are also overarching themes. FR also carries out work on genetic conservation, tree improvement, seed testing, method studies, product evaluation, crop inventory, surveys, and monitoring. Much of the research is directed at increasing the biodiversity, landscape and recreational benefits of woodlands.

FR can provide information on woodland habitat and condition in Britain that will be of value to the work of BICCO-Net. FR collects, or has access to the most comprehensive dataset on woodland for Britain. Information ranges from national survey and inventories (e.g. The national inventory of woodland and trees), through to detailed stand scale monitoring for example as carried out at sites in the Intensive Forest Monitoring Network. The wide ranging climate change-related research undertaken by FR, covering impact assessment and monitoring, adaptation and mitigation in relation to woodlands, may also be of relevance to BICCO-Net project.