Conservationists have praised the launch of a new government strategy to revive the remaining fragments of the vast temperate rainforests that were once “one of the jewels of Britain’s nature crown”.
Temperate rainforest, also known as Atlantic woodland or Celtic rainforest, once covered most of western Britain and Ireland. The archipelago’s wet, mild conditions are ideal for lichens, mosses and liverworts. But centuries of destruction have meant that only small, isolated pockets remain.
In England, just 189 sq km (46,624 acres) survive from the ecosystem that once stretched from Cornwall to the west of Scotland, and these remain threatened by overgrazing from sheep, invasive species and nitrogen pollution.
After three years of campaigning, the government published the strategy at the end of November to protect and recover England’s temperate rainforests, and committed £750,000 for research and development.
The strategy includes a commitment to protect and restore the internationally rare ecosystems and use public-private partnerships to help fund their conservation. There is also a pledge to reduce pressure from grazing by deer, which is one of the main factors preventing forests’ recovery. The government says it will work with farmers and landowners to protect areas of temperate rainforests on their land.
Guy Shrubsole, who leads the Lost Rainforests of Britain campaign, said the move was “exciting” but called for a target to be set to double the area of British rainforests by 2050.
“Before 2021, no politician had even mentioned temperate rainforests in the UK parliament. Now, the government themselves have not only mentioned it, they’ve actually devoted entire official policy documents to this habitat,” he said. “That’s really cool to see.”
Shrubsole, who wrote a bestselling book about Britain’s rainforests, added: “The government has to set a very clear ambition: that this is about doubling the rainforests.
“They really need to tackle things like rhododendron and there has to be a reckoning about overgrazing sheep,” he said, urging members of the public to volunteer and keep getting involved with the effort.
Joan Edwards, director of policy for the Wildlife Trusts, said: “Temperate rainforest is a globally rare habitat that was once one of the jewels of Britain’s nature crown. The remnants that still exist contain some of the highest floral diversity in the world, including a vast array of mosses, lichens, liverworts and ferns.
“We welcome the government’s intention to invest in temperate rainforest restoration and management, as part of protecting 30% of land by 2030, and look forward to a more detailed strategy in the coming months.”
Environmental organisations have long been campaigning for a government strategy and to raise the profile of the ecosystem, including the Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust, RSPB, National Trust and Plantlife. Members of the public have been helping to map and identify remaining fragments by looking for indicator species such as lichens, mosses and liverworts.
The private sector has also contributed to reviving the rainforests, with Aviva pledging £38m in February for restoration efforts through the company’s sustainability programme. Wildlife Trusts are partnering with the insurance firm, and Edwards said they were already putting the money to work “expanding British rainforests with projects already under way in north Wales, Devon and the Isle of Man”.
The forestry minister, Rebecca Pow, paid tribute “to campaigners on this issue, who have led an inspiring movement, and I look forward to working with them on our shared endeavour to protect these unique places”.
She added: “The UK is home to globally rare temperate rainforests supporting rich native habitats and rare species and plants. Most of our temperate rainforests are centuries old and form an important part of our natural heritage. It is vital they are supported and protected for future generations.”
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