Forestry, Wood & Biodiversity
Well-managed woodlands provide a healthy habitat for an abundance of wildlife, insects, flora and fungi. In modern UK forestry, there’s no such thing as a monoculture.
Are wood-producing forests designed to support biodiversity?
Yes. Well-managed woodlands planted to produce softwood (like spruce, fir and pine) can be a hive of activity for wildlife. Creatures that thrive in conifer forests include the red squirrel, pine marten and many birds of prey.
There is significant scientific evidence that forests planted for wood production are valuable wildlife habitats and contribute positively to a healthy environment. A well-managed forestry site can offer protections to rare species of insects, mammals and birds due to the environmental assessments needed before planting, and the monitoring and reporting required afterwards.
In 2020, Confor produced a report, Biodiversity, Forestry and Wood, which identified the wildlife benefits of modern forestry and wood production. It also called for more work to be done to better understand the benefits of wood-producing forests.