Our forests are facing challenges like never before. Changing climates, new pests and diseases, and extreme weather events are putting more pressure on the trees, wildlife, and communities that rely on these special places. At Forestry England, we’re taking action to make the nation’s forests stronger, more adaptable, and ready for the future.
Assess, diversify and restore
Being fit for the future means managing forests that are diverse, resilient, and balanced.
Our work is guided by three clear points that help us put resilience into practice:
- assess: We take a close look at our forests to understand their current condition and identify the risks they face. This helps us make informed decisions about how to strengthen them for the future.
- diversify: We increase the variety of tree species, ages, and genetic sources in our forests. For example, we’re planting a mix of tree species to build ecosystems that can better withstand storms, resist disease, and recover from change. By researching the right species to plant, we’re helping our forests adapt to a changing environment.
- restore: We take action to restore healthy, fully functioning ecosystems. This means prioritising whole-forest health and biodiversity, so forests can continue to support wildlife, timber production, and people.
Balancing nature, timber and people
Our work is about more than trees. We manage forests in ways that support nature and wildlife, produce sustainable timber, and create spaces that people can enjoy. Every decision we make is guided by the principle that healthy, well-planned forests are better able to cope with uncertainty and continue to provide homes for wildlife, places for people, and resources for communities.
Forest Resilience Strategy
This approach is underpinned by our Forest Resilience Strategy, which sets out the principles guiding our work. But on the ground, it’s about practical action—how we care for our forests today so that they can thrive tomorrow. Through careful planning, active management, and dedication, we are shaping forests that are fit for the future, resilient in the face of change, and able to endure for generations to come.
You can read the strategy or take a look at our summary below.
