The loss of woodland in the UK
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A history of deforestation
Tree cover has been declining fora very long time - ever since Neolithic man began clearing land for agriculture around 4000 BC. By the Iron Age (500BC) the original total forest cover had probably been halved and had been reduced to just 15% by 1086 when the Domesday Book was produced.
Woodlands have a long established place in this county's history. They have been the source of timber to fuel industry, building and overseas exploration. Woodlands were very important in the local economy and through coppicing they provided brush, poles and timber for firewood, fencing and building needs. The current character of our ancient woodlands is a product of the purposes for which they were used in the past.
As traditional uses and markets for wood began to decline so the woodland cover declined also. Of the remaining ancient woodland a further 45% has been destroyed since the second world war. This loss was mostly as a result of the mechanisation and intensification of agriculture and a national increase in dependence on livestock and animal products.
Hope for the future?
Some of the remaining native woodland is managed as nature reserves or for public recreation and their short term survival is relatively secure. However many others are neglected due to their inaccessibility or because landowners see no potential profit in their management. Fortunately there is now growing recognition of the diverse value of our woodlands so hopefully there will be a future for our neglected woodlands.
There are also moves towards reforestation. By the year 2000 the UK's woodland cover was the lowest in Europe ( just 5%) and Devon is one of the least wooded counties (with only 2.2% ancient woodland cover). A number of local and national initiatives has now increased the UK's woodland cover to about 10%, although these are mainly from plantations or conifer forestry which do not offer such diverse biodiversity potential as native woodland.
The trend away from deforestation promises to continue for a while at least. Some of the stimuli for the increase in tree planting came from the loss of an estimated 15 million trees during the storms of 1987. Additionally, as concerns grow around the world over global warming and climate change, reforestation is seen as an essential part of any possible solution.
As in the past, our future and the future of the entire eco-system of this planet is ultimately dependant on the continued existence of woodlands. It remains to be seen whether humans can make the changes to halt the continuing world-wide deforestation that threatens our own exisitence.
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