The Tree of Knowledge (ToK): communicating the complexity of forest resilience.
Lead Research Organisation:
James Hutton Institute
Department Name: Ecological Sciences
Abstract
The UK research councils are nearing the end of a five-year programme of research called 'Future of UK Treescapes' which aims to 'understand the environmental and societal benefits of landscapes in which trees play a significant role'. To gain maximum benefit from this research the results need to be synthesized and made available, using appropriate language, and using a range of formats, to relevant stakeholders.
The Tree of Knowledge (ToK) project is a knowledge exchange project that will synthesize work from three projects (DiversiTree, MEMBRA and newLEAF) within the Future of UK Treescapes Programme, communicate the results to forest managers, policy makers and the public and in liaison with stakeholders co-develop guidance on how to implement the results both in forest management and in policy.
The three projects ToK will synthesis cover different aspects of forest resilience. Resilience is the ability of a system, such as a forest, to recover from a disturbance. Currently the UK government is encouraging an increase in forest cover as part of its plans to store more carbon, to mitigate climate change. However, many of the UK's trees are threatened by climate change and a range of pests and diseases, which might limit their ability to contribute to carbon storage and the wide range of other benefits delivered by trees. We therefore need to make our forests resilient to these future threats. Resilience is delivered by multiple interacting factors, but a key parameter is diversity. More diverse systems are generally more resilient. Diversity occurs at many different levels. Species diversity is the number of different tree species within an area and is the research focus of the DiversiTree project. Genetic diversity is variation among individuals within a species and is the focus of the newLEAF project. Epigenetics are the biochemical changes within a tree in response to stresses during its life and may be described as the 'memory' of the tree, this is the focus of the MEMBRA project.
Forest managers are advised that diversity increases resilience, but the practical implementation of diversity concepts can be complex and nuanced and may involve trade-offs between tree species, genetic diversity and epigenetic memory. In addition, genetic diversity and epigenetics are hard to visualize and interpret on the ground. The ToK project will make species diversity, genetic diversity, and epigenetic memory, more visible to forest managers, policy makers, and the public. It will explain why these concepts are important to understand and provide stakeholders with improved knowledge to evaluate diversity and resilience in the context of their own forests, such that decision-making is easier.
There are three stages to ToK. First, we bring together researchers from DiversiTree, newLEAF and MEMBRA to synthesize current knowledge of the benefits, risks and uncertainties of species diversity, genetic diversity, and epigenetic memory for increasing resilience. We will identify consistent messages from across these projects, reducing the risk that stakeholders will receive conflicting information from three projects which ultimately all have the same aim of increasing forest resilience. Second, we will work with forest practitioners and policy makers to co-develop outputs from the synthesis that meet real world needs. Finally, the project will leave a range of co-developed outputs. Our research notes and webinars (recorded for future use) will provide practical guidance for practitioners on how to include species diversity, genetic diversity, and epigenetic memory within their forest planning. Our policy brief will provide guidance on results from the project that policy makers need to consider. Finally, our animated film, blogs, infographics, and podcast will increase the visibility, understanding and raise awareness of species diversity, genetic diversity, and epigenetic memory amongst the public.
The Tree of Knowledge (ToK) project is a knowledge exchange project that will synthesize work from three projects (DiversiTree, MEMBRA and newLEAF) within the Future of UK Treescapes Programme, communicate the results to forest managers, policy makers and the public and in liaison with stakeholders co-develop guidance on how to implement the results both in forest management and in policy.
The three projects ToK will synthesis cover different aspects of forest resilience. Resilience is the ability of a system, such as a forest, to recover from a disturbance. Currently the UK government is encouraging an increase in forest cover as part of its plans to store more carbon, to mitigate climate change. However, many of the UK's trees are threatened by climate change and a range of pests and diseases, which might limit their ability to contribute to carbon storage and the wide range of other benefits delivered by trees. We therefore need to make our forests resilient to these future threats. Resilience is delivered by multiple interacting factors, but a key parameter is diversity. More diverse systems are generally more resilient. Diversity occurs at many different levels. Species diversity is the number of different tree species within an area and is the research focus of the DiversiTree project. Genetic diversity is variation among individuals within a species and is the focus of the newLEAF project. Epigenetics are the biochemical changes within a tree in response to stresses during its life and may be described as the 'memory' of the tree, this is the focus of the MEMBRA project.
Forest managers are advised that diversity increases resilience, but the practical implementation of diversity concepts can be complex and nuanced and may involve trade-offs between tree species, genetic diversity and epigenetic memory. In addition, genetic diversity and epigenetics are hard to visualize and interpret on the ground. The ToK project will make species diversity, genetic diversity, and epigenetic memory, more visible to forest managers, policy makers, and the public. It will explain why these concepts are important to understand and provide stakeholders with improved knowledge to evaluate diversity and resilience in the context of their own forests, such that decision-making is easier.
There are three stages to ToK. First, we bring together researchers from DiversiTree, newLEAF and MEMBRA to synthesize current knowledge of the benefits, risks and uncertainties of species diversity, genetic diversity, and epigenetic memory for increasing resilience. We will identify consistent messages from across these projects, reducing the risk that stakeholders will receive conflicting information from three projects which ultimately all have the same aim of increasing forest resilience. Second, we will work with forest practitioners and policy makers to co-develop outputs from the synthesis that meet real world needs. Finally, the project will leave a range of co-developed outputs. Our research notes and webinars (recorded for future use) will provide practical guidance for practitioners on how to include species diversity, genetic diversity, and epigenetic memory within their forest planning. Our policy brief will provide guidance on results from the project that policy makers need to consider. Finally, our animated film, blogs, infographics, and podcast will increase the visibility, understanding and raise awareness of species diversity, genetic diversity, and epigenetic memory amongst the public.
Organisations
- James Hutton Institute (Lead Research Organisation)
- NatureScot (Project Partner)
- The Woodland Trust (Project Partner)
- Dept for Env Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA (Project Partner)
- Natural England (Project Partner)
- Small Woods Association (Project Partner)
- Confederation of Forest Ind (UK) Confor (Project Partner)
- Chartered Inst Ecol and Env Man (CIEEM) (Project Partner)
- Institute of Chartered Foresters (Project Partner)
| Description | We know which species are supported by Scots pine (1589 species) and by Sitka spruce (564) and if any of 47 other tree species will support this biodiversity. We know that diversification of Sitka spruce forests will not only support the biodiversity currently found on Sitka spruce but will also support a wide range of additional biodiversity not currently supported by Sitka spruce. However the tree species that bring the greatest biodiversity benefits will not grow in intimate mixes with Sitka spruce and the planting design needs careful consideration. In contrast diversification of Scots pine forests won't support the majority of the biodiversity currently supported by Scots pine as the majority of the species that use Scots pine are specialists and use few other tree species. We have shown that woodland managers have a good understanding of the benefits of diversification but some feel that diversification will not allow them to achieve their objectives, be that for timber production or conservation. Grant schemes were shown not to promote diversification, with the grants largely being used to fund work that would have been undertaken anyway, or the grants were not considered appropriate, e.g. the woodland was too small for the grant. We have shown that the microbiome of the tree leaves is more strongly influenced by the tree species composition and the age and location of the trees than the diversity of the tree species present. We have looked at three techniques for tree diversification - continuous cover forestry, natural regeneration and enrichment planting. For all three we have shown the benefits and problems with these techniques, highlighting that although you might establish a diverse mix of species as young trees, this might not result in a diverse mixture of trees as the forest matures, because of different growth rates and shading tolerances of the trees. |
| Exploitation Route | Further work on which tree species might provide resilience. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| URL | https://www.hutton.ac.uk/project/diversitree/ |
| Description | Findings have been used by Community Woodlands Association groups, CIEEM, Royal Forestry Society in their discussions around tree. We have given webinars to all these groups to aid them in their discussions. The Royal Society of Edinburgh used the findings in their report Public financial support for tree planting and forestry https://rse.org.uk/programme/policy-advice/inquiries/tree-planting-inquiry/ |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Invited to give evidence to the Rural Affairs and Islands committee of the Scottish Government on 15th January 2025 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliamen... |
| Description | How much diversity is enough - a presentation to the final Treescapes Conference June 24 Glasgow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A debate covering genetic, species and epigenetics and how much diversity is enough to provide resilience for future woods and forests |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |