Conservationists have praised the launch of a new government strategy to revive the remaining fragments of the vast temperate rainforests that once formed 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 a strategy at the end of November to protect and recover England’s temperate rainforests, and committed £750,000 for research and development.
No mention of rewilding, but that will be required to do this. If they are introducing deer, they should also do wolfs I’m afraid. Also beavers.
There are more deer in the UK now that there ever have been, pretty much. As it says in the article, some of work required is to reduce overgrazing by deer. Most of them are non-native of course - muntjac and others - and they are preventing re-growth because they eat all the new shoots. Without regrowth, any woodland is doomed. Introducing deer is about the opposite of what we need.
Of course, beavers have been re-introduced in a few places now. That will continue, no doubt.
Wolves will be a very hard sell. For now deer are controlled by stalking.
Wolves are a hard sell, but they do a good job control deer numbers.
Anyone know where the remaining enclave is?
Here is a map of the remaining fragments. You need to choose the ‘rainforest fragments’ layer.
There’s no one remaining patch of it, there’s just little scraps all over the place that add up to the amount quoted.
Nottingham forrest I guess, there are some old old oaks there. Probably a few fragments left like this. Any forrest that is older than the industrial revolution is good bet. If it’s older than the Roman’s invasion, then it must be accident forrest.
Nottingham is nowhere near the Atlantic coast. That is not at all what they are talking about.
Yer, you’re probably right. It’s certainly not west coast. But any remaining bits of Britain’s original rain forest cover can provide seeds and transplants.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Conservationists have praised the launch of a new government strategy to revive the remaining fragments of the vast temperate rainforests that once formed the “jewels of Britain’s nature crown”.
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.
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.
“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.”
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”.
The original article contains 612 words, the summary contains 197 words. Saved 68%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
