The current spread of the Eight Toothed Spruce beetle (IPS Typographus) has lead to a radical change in advice from the Forestry Commission. As the demarcated zone for Ips continues to grow, the old zone covering the south east of England has be renamed. The new ‘Proactive Spruce Removal Zone’ sees a radical approach to dealing with Ips by aiming to remove all Spruce plantations from the south east over the next ten years.
Joe Court Forestry are currently planning, writing and delivering one of the largest Spruce management programs within the current Tree Health Pilot. This large scale management program has been influential in obtaining a range of modifications to the Tree Health Pilot and any follow up schemes and is something which we are hugely proud to have been so influential in ( see follow up article). However, the removal and clear felling of large areas of Norawy Spruce does provide a challenge. I would be the first to admit that removing all the trees from an area of woodland looks pretty stark. And once the mulchers have been in to remove the remaining residue under Forestry Commisison guidance the relatively sterile appearance can be shocking and distressing to many.
However, the silver lining to these operations, apart from protecting our forestry industry, if the ability to replant these areas with a more divers species assemblage which provides more resilience in the future.
We all know that climate change is happening and will continue into the future. Our trees are adapted to the climate we have now and are not able to move to find a more suitable climate as our weather changes and temperatures increase. The more diverse we can make our woodlands and the stronger their ecosystems can be, the more likely they are to be able to deal with future changes in weather or invasive pests.
As we replant these areas, we also need to take into account the need for productive forestry to supply our ever growing need for timber as biomass, in constructions and many other markets. By carefully selecting the most appropriate species mixes we can plant futureproof forests that will maximise biodiversity, caron capture and resilience whilst also providing a long term economically stable investment opportunity for our clients.
This can mean new and novel species of tree or new species combinations. But it can also mean sourcing your trees from areas who currently have the climate we are forecast to have. To prevent the import of foreign diseases, Forest Research is currently sourcing seed from further south in Europe to introduce their beneficial genetics to our domestic tree stock. https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/diverse-forests-for-future-climate It is hoped that these trees will thrive and maintain our delicate native ecosystems in the face of the ever changing conditions which we find ourself in.
If you have Spruce on your land holding or are just interested in diversifying and future proofing your woodland then please do get in touch. We would be more than happy to come and offer advice or guide you through the whole process from start to finish.
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