NCEA: Forest Research’s major programme to measure England’s natural capital - Forest Research
Aiming to reverse a nationwide depletion of habitats, and seeking to achieve net zero by 2050, the UK government is using a range of policy initiatives and programmes to invest in our land and water-based environments. To make sure these actions are effective, it’s essential that decision-makers have accurate and up-to-date evidence.
The Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) is a Defra-led science and innovation programme, working across both land and water environments. It collects data on the extent, condition and change over time of England’s ecosystems and natural capital and quantifies the benefits to society they provide. Forest Research is at the heart of the programme, collecting data on trees, woodlands and forest habitats, building software solutions and delivering mapping products.
Matt Wilkinson is the NCEA Programme Manager at Forest Research. Here, he explains the scale and significance of the NCEA programme and the innovation that is being fostered. “NCEA is a flagship research and development programme sitting at the heart of the government’s major portfolio of projects. We are working with a range of other Defra arms-length bodies (ALBs) such as Natural England, the Environment Agency, and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to provide a baseline assessment of the natural capital state of England’s habitats. The programme also aims to improve our understanding of why those habitats are important and the scale of the benefits that they provide. NCEA describes the environmental, social and economic value of the terrestrial and aquatic natural environments. Using a range of monitoring techniques, we’re assessing the state of the natural environment across the whole of England. So, ultimately, we can build a set of natural capital accounts. If we’ve got a value, whether that’s a monetary value or an intrinsic value to society, then it facilitates better decision-making by government and policy makers. We’re providing the evidence that will help support sustainable land use management, including forest practice in the future. We’re assessing a whole range of natural and managed ecosystems to inform different aspects of land use policy.”
Posted On: 05/02/2025
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