Woodland Wales takes action over climate change

Llais y Goedwig, the community woodland network in Wales, has heeded the warnings about climate change and is taking action, thanks to a grant from Environment Wales. Volunteer, Adam Thorogood, a forestry student at Bangor University, has spent several months pulling together a library of reports and articles relating to climate change and welsh woodlands. These resources will be made available to community groups by Llais y Goedwig in the form of wooden USB data sticks made from certified sustainable timber.

Llais y Goedwig will tour the country this summer with the Woodland Management Roadshow, distributing the wooden datasticks and delivering a series of talks and workshops relating to all aspects of community woodland management, including the changes to be made in the face of a shifting climate.

"Our forests and woodlands in Wales are under threat from climate change," said Adam Thorogood, "dangerous levels of greenhouse gas emissions are changing weather patterns, shifting seasonal timings, and creating niches for new pests and diseases. Such threats will change our woodland cover in Wales, community groups are going to have to adapt fast."

Welsh woodlands will also be under increased pressure to meet fuel and timber demands both locally and nationally due to a rise in use of renewable energy systems for heat and electricity and the rising costs of fossil fuel derived products. With these multiple threats and demands placed on woods, it will be important to make the right management decisions so that our woodlands continue to thrive and provide well into the future.

The Woodland Management Roadshows are taking place across Wales this summer to help existing and would-be community woodland groups develop their woodland management skills base. The first event is in Llangennech (near Swansea) on Saturday July 17th and it will be a great chance to network with groups and individuals involved in woodlands and forestry and to learn from a series of expert-delivered workshops. Lunch will be provided followed by a woodland visit to near-by Troserch Woods in the afternoon.