Europe\u2019s forests are central to fighting climate change. By 2050 we are committed to a net-zero world, where any remaining greenhouse gas emissions are compensated by removals of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. <\/p>\n
European forests absorb the equivalent of 10 per cent of emissions caused by humans in the EU. However, the ability of forests to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is declining due to climate extremes, pests and diseases and increased harvesting rates.<\/p>\n
A recent study by Migliavacca and colleagues<\/a> highlights the challenges facing the forestry sector across Europe and identifies key actions that need to be taken now to ensure forests provide us with the goods and services that we \u2013 and nature \u2013 depend on.<\/p>\n While the climate crisis is unique to our generation, forests have long been central to other crises in human history. The recent book by Jonathan Mullard, Forgotten Forests<\/a>, details 12,000 years of British and Irish woodlands. <\/p>\n Mullard outlines a long history of dynamic forest use, exploitation, plantation, abandonment and recovery. The history of these islands is seen through the advance, retreat and alteration of forests and woodlands.<\/p>\n At times of crisis during the first and second World Wars, British and Irish forests were extensively exploited for building materials, pit props to enable coal to be extracted to power the military machine, premium beech wood was felled for constructing the mosquito fighter plane and fuel was harvested. <\/p>\n The difficulty of importing timber across oceans patrolled by hostile forces made domestic sources more important. More than 180,000 hectares of woodland were felled in Britain to provide for the needs of the first World War. <\/p>\n This is equivalent to an area the size of Co Sligo, or about a fifth of Ireland\u2019s forested area of 809,000ha. In Ireland firewood consumption<\/a> peaked during second World War due to restrictions in coal imports.<\/p>\n Forest felling was followed by periods of forest establishment, which waxed and waned after the second World War depending on the demand for timber and developments of new technologies and materials. Forests on these islands both shaped and were shaped by wider political, industrial and social events.<\/p>\n It is no surprise the climate and biodiversity crises require a reshaping of forests. What will the forests of the future look like and how will they be managed? Some 30 per cent of Europe\u2019s forests consist of a single tree species, with one third of this spruce. <\/p>\n [\u00a0Ireland\u2019s nature lovers on their favourite trees: \u2018I felt I could talk to it, like going to a good therapist\u2019Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Putting all our forestry eggs in one basket with a single species, Sitka Spruce, is looking increasingly risky. We are seeing the devastation of ash trees due to a single disease, ash dieback, which is ripping through plantations and hedgerows. There are several pests and diseases, such as the bark beetle, that would pose a severe threat to Sitka Spruce and the forestry industry here if they were to become established.<\/p>\n Densely-planted Sitka Spruce that is poorly managed and on peat soils is particularly vulnerable to windthrow. Storm \u00c9owyn<\/a>, earlier this year, caused damage to more than 24,000 hectares of forests and repeated red warnings for forest fire were issued over the summer. With climate change altering the frequency and intensity of storms and droughts we need to de-risk the forestry sector.<\/p>\n While Sitka Spruce is still the dominant forestry plantation species, increasing proportions of broadleaf trees and native species are being planted. Most afforestation since the 1990s has been on private land and there is an increasing role for private forestry to contribute to the supply of timber as well as climate, biodiversity and water services. <\/p>\n