DiversiTree will provide woodland managers with the knowledge and tools required to enable them to increase the resilience of their woodlands to climate change, and pests and diseases.
£517k
Funded under UK Treescapes Call 2
Aug 22 – Mar 25
We need to make our woodlands resilient to the threats of climate change, pests, and diseases. One commonly proposed approach to increase the resilience of woods is to increase their tree diversity, thus, spreading the risk amongst many different tree species.
DiversiTree aims to address four challenges related to tree species diversification:
Through interviews, focus groups and workshops, the team are exploring woodland managers’ perspectives on diversity and resilience, as well as opportunities and barriers to diversification.
Microbial analysis of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) is illuminating how tree species mixtures impact the leaf microbiome and exploring whether tree diversity can act as a safety net for biodiversity.
Researchers are also examining the opportunities and limitations of strategies such as Continuous Cover Forestry, natural regeneration, and enrichment planting.
By working across these scales—from microbial communities to management practices—the project team are developing actionable advice for woodland managers on implementing treescape diversity.
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Dr Ruth Mitchell, Lead of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Group, The James Hutton Institute Email: ruth.mitchell@hutton.ac.uk |
The James Hutton Institute, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, RSPB, University of Birmingham, Bangor University