| Improving woodland
biodiversity Biodiversity
is an expression of the variety of living things and of the richness and vitality of our
environment. It encompasses species number and genetic variation within species, together
with the diversity and extent of habitats that they comprise and which support them.
 The issue
- Ancient woodland represents our only link with
the original wildwood and is more likely to contain vulnerable species than any other
habitat. Most of these are associated with old trees, deadwood or open ground and are
restricted to ancient woods.
- The rate of decline in woodland biodiversity has
increased this century.
- Fragmentation of ancient woodland has led to loss
of species due to their isolation into populations too small to be self-sustaining.
- A high proportion of boundary in relation to area
has left many woods vulnerable to external influences.
- Intensive agriculture and urban expansion has led
to loss of transitional habitats around woods.
- Continuity of habitats has been broken due to a
decline in traditional management of coppice and pasture woodland.
- Intensive management means fewer old trees and
less deadwood.
What we would like to see
- The most important woods managed to maintain and
improve biodiversity.
- Greater protection and support for all woods of
significant conservation value.
- An increase in deadwood, particularly within
ancient woods.
How we will achieve this
- We will continue to acquire and manage ancient
woodland.
- We will undertake surveys and monitor the impact
of our management.
- We will give particular attention to developing
deadwood.
- We will offer advice and support on management
for biodiversity to other landowners.
- We will lobby funding bodies and
government to increase support for woodland management for biodiversity.
(see our Millennium
Challenges for Government)
- We will contribute to development and delivery of
the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
- We will continue to emphasise restoration of
ancient woodland sites previously planted with conifers.
- We will establish ‘flagship sites’ for
demonstration of woodland management for biodiversity.
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