Utilizing AI to achieve societal benefit uplift in England's public forest estate

For most of the past 100 years, the primary focus of British forestry has been on the natural capital assets of the trees in terms of timber production1. Existing tools provide information on how forests can be managed to maximize timber. In the 21st century, however, equal or greater importance is given to other societal benefits obtained from woodlands. Such benefits include the role of trees in water flow regulation, mitigating the risk of floods by reducing the peak flow of water into streams and rivers. Forests also serve as important wildlife habitat and recreational space, the latter contributing to better human health and well-being. These benefits vary according to the nature and timing of different forest management decisions, such as the mix of tree species, thinning frequency and spacing, forest patch size and connectivity, infrastructure extent, the response to pests and disease, and the harvesting system. Trade-offs may occur, with a particular practice increasing one benefit while decreasing another. Forestry England is the arm of the Forestry Commission responsible for managing the 250,000 hectares of England's public forest estate. The organization maintains an account quantifying the estate's natural capital. Forestry England is keen to identify how and where forest management practices can achieve uplift in societal benefit.