Studying how trees can help the UK reach net zero emissions

Studying how trees can help the UK reach net zero emissions - UK Research and Innovation

Six research teams across the UK will develop new tools and approaches which will help trees and woodlands adapt to climate change.

The research aims to enable the UK to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions. It will also improve our understanding of the value of trees to people and the planet, and support the expansion of treescapes across the UK.

sunlight streaming through the canopy of green trees — woodland (photo: Joren Quinton / unsplash)

The projects will receive a share of £10.5 million funding from UK Research and Innovation to:

understand how local authorities are meeting their tree planting targets, the cultural significance of trees to communities and how well they capture greenhouse gases
work creatively with young people to co-produce new approaches to creating and caring for treescapes that benefit the environment and society
investigate how trees respond to stress and pass on that memory to future generations
assess the potential of woodland restoration along over 200,000 km of England’s rivers and bodies of water
examine how community forests enable stakeholders to work in partnership to deliver multiple benefits from forests
study whether trees can adapt effectively to climate change, pests and diseases.

Expanding woodlands and forests

Trees, woodlands and forests play a vital role in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and nurturing biodiversity. Thirteen per cent of the UK is covered by woodland, and the UK government has pledged to plant millions of trees every year over the coming decades.

Expanding the UK’s trees, woodlands and forests will play an important role in realising the government’s ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, our treescapes need to become more resilient to pressures such as changing climate, disease, and competing demands for land in order to reverse decades of decline in biodiversity and environmental quality.

Forestry Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith said: "I am delighted to be supporting this new research programme, which will emphasise the importance of treescapes and help deliver our tree planting ambitions. In the run up to COP26 this is an exciting opportunity to showcase how the UK’s cutting-edge science can deepen our understanding of the health and environmental benefits provided by trees while ensuring they are protected for future generations."