Forestry Commission Wales at the Royal Welsh Show * http://www.rwas.co.uk/en/welsh-show/the-royal-welsh-showThe Royal Welsh Agricultural Society was formed in 1904, and the first Event was held in Aberystwyth in the same year. Wales & the Society have come a long way since those early days, and now the annual Royal Welsh Show is one of the biggest events in Wales' Calendar.
Launch of research paper - The Impacts of Climate Change on Forestry in Wales -
at the Forestry Commission Wales pavilion on Tuesday at 3.30pm.
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones on Tuesday, July 22 called on farmers in Wales to join forces with the nation's foresters to help fight the effects of climate change.
The Minister outlined the predictions of increased risks of summer drought and winter flooding as she launched a research paper which spells out the potential effects of climate change on our woodlands.
The research paper - Impacts of Climate Change on Forestry in Wales - forecasts more extremes of weather with increased high rainfall in the winter leading to the likelihood of flooding and landslips, with the potential for drought particularly in the south as summers become drier.
The author of the research, Duncan Ray, also attended the launch where it was predicted that the management of our woodlands would need to change as a wider selection of tree species becomes more suited to the changing climate.
Already, the Forestry Commission is setting up a Centre for Forestry and Climate Change to increase the understanding of its effects and how forests in Wales can adapt, and FC Wales has commissioned further research to look at the subject in greater detail.
The Minister urged farmers to work with the forestry sector and use the trees on their land to help combat climate change.
She said, "Climate change is a global challenge and it is one which the Welsh Assembly Government is determined to play its part in meeting. The clear message is that climate change is not something that might happen in the future – it is with us already. It is known that there will be significant effects on Wales’ climate and we all need to be aware of possible impacts, for example in relation to over-winter survival of pests and diseases." ..
The Minister said integrated land use and land management was something she was totally committed to and she was keen to see land management in the forestry and agriculture sectors linked. She said that "working together to tackle climate change can break down some of the traditional barriers between the two sectors."
Most farms in Wales have some trees and woodland, but this resource was often under-recognised but woodlands can provide a ready supply of fuel.
The Minister cited the example of the Pontbren farmers in mid-Wales who have been restoring woodlands close to water courses to reduce water run-off during heavy rains. As climate change results in increased rainfall, this will be even more valuable.
"In addition, they have found the woodland is providing a supply of woodchip which they are using as bedding for their animals – cutting bills for straw they were previously importing from East Anglia. This is the kind of joined up thinking I am keen to support and of course, woodlands are a source of renewable woodfuel and provide a natural and adaptable low-energy raw material – timber," she said.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Forestry Commission Wales is the Welsh Assembly Government's department responsible for forestry policy and looks after the 320,000 acres (130,000ha) of public forests owned by the Assembly.
The Welsh Assembly Government owns 40% of Wales's woodlands, with the remainder either privately owned or in the voluntary sector.
Media enquiries to Forestry Commission Wales Information Officer, Clive Davies, on 0845 604 0845 , mobile 07788 190922 .
Further information on the woodlands of Wales can be found on the Forestry Commission Wales website, www.forestry.gov.uk
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