Evaluate current nature conservation
practice and policy, with respect to Ancient Woodland habitat types
GG3720A
Nick
Drake
Ancient
Woodlands and the habitats they deliver are ‘the most important category of
woodlands for nature conservation’ (Thomas (i). Ancient Woodlands by definition
are woodlands that pre-date 1600AD; Ancient Woodlands ‘ do
not refer to the age of the trees, or a lack of human interference but
identifies sites where woodland has been continuously present, and never used
for other purposes’ (Watkins (i).
The
recognition of the value of ancient woodland has been both a recent development
within policy agendas and, the subject of continuing shifts in political
practice in 20th century governments. A major shift in the politics
governing conservation and management of forests has come from local, national
and European scale policies and practices.
Ancient
woodlands represent areas of distinct biological diversity, ‘considered as the
most important category of woodland in terms of wildlife terms’ (Goldsmith (i).
Many of the species found in ancient woodlands are found only in these
woodlands and there is also a great range of supported species. ‘Many form a
unique link to the primeval wildwood habitats that covered most of lowland
Demands
from within the rural arena, historically from agriculture and from recent
development proposals and plantations fuelled an un-controlled decline in
Ancient Woodlands until the 1980’s when government policies changed to
forestry. The period following the ‘end of the second world war 1939-45, saw
unprecedented changes upon both semi-natural woodlands and ancient woodlands;
as demand for supplies including private woodlands’ (Goldsmith (ii) exacerbated
replantation (and in the case of ancient woodland – was irreplaceable)
To
illustrate the changes in the size and distribution of ancient woodland, I
shall draw attention to the following information. Based on Peterkin and
Allison’s findings of 1945 from Conservation in Progress, there was an
estimated 500,000 ha of ancient woodland. OF this 500k ha, 50% was neglected,
30% was plantation, 10% was due for clearing and a further 10% managed along
traditional practices. By 1947, 149,000ha of broadleaved ancient woodland had
been cleared..
The
implications of the improper management and conservation of ancient woodlands
was becoming apparent. The so called ‘most valuable resource’ in woodland
management identified in the late 1980’s was being misused and in structural
decline.
Further
to the problems presented within the ancient woodlands, were the problems
associated with fragmentation of forests. Since the Doomsday book of 1066AD,
natural and semi-natural woodlands have been in decline mainly due to the
pressures exerted upon it by agriculture, development and plantations. The
‘decline and alteration of the countryside, have compounded effects on woodland
ecosystems, isolated amid a sea of more intensive land use’ (Goldsmith (i)
Throughout
the 1960’s, economic factors and the ignorance of national government to the
value of ancient woodlands, continued the conversion of broadleaved and ancient
woodlands to plantations. In the recent past, it was not understood how species
and biological diversity actually works. Recent advancements in the
understanding of biological communities and ecosystems have shown the
replacement of ancient, indigenous woodlands with foreign plantations of a
limited range of conifer and coniferous plantations to be of negative
consequence and result to the species present. As with any example of
introduced species, some associated species will benefit and others will
decline.
The
question that needs to be asked is: Are indigenous species of greater value?
The
20th century specifically has seen considerable changes in the
operations of the forests and woodlands. For centuries, forests had been
managed using traditional methods such as coppicing and pollarding, also
relatively, they did not experience great variations in the total area of
ancient woodlands. However, during the 20th century, the demand for
clearing forests for agriculture and development has seen a ‘shift from natural
regeneration of ancient forests to plantation of non-native softwoods meaning
that 2/3rds of the total forest cover is coniferous’ (Goldsmith (i)
So
the significance of this historical perspective is that underlying the
processes of policy designations, local and national government intervention
and conservation management and practices, are elements such as agriculture,
development and plantations which are currently and have been eroding Ancient Woodlands
despite protections.
In
similarity to the Doomsday Book of 1066, it was deemed necessary in 1980 by the
NCC or Nature Conservancy Council to produce a complete inventory, database or
collection of information relating to Ancient woodlands, called the Ancient
Woodland Inventory Project. The AWI was identified as being beneficial for the
following reasons, quoted from Goldsmith p75:
·
Would provide
more detailed estimates of the extent and location of woodlands
·
Assist in the
designation of SSSI’s inc. other designations
·
Provide a
valuable context for other conservation bodies to set their own policies
·
Set a baseline to
which future changes in broadleaved policy could be compared.
The
AWI achieved its objectives in 1981. The information received proved to be
invaluable for:
·
Detailed regional
information
·
Setting conservation
and land-use policies relating to Ancient woodland
·
As a spur to
further studies and general interest in Ancient Woodland
The
beginning of the 1980’s saw a distinct change in both policies and practices
towards forests, woodlands and Ancient Woodlands. Between the years 1980 and
1996, ten conservation policies related specifically to ancient forests were
introduced, and the most relevant are outlined below:
1980
– The House of Lords recognise growing criticism of damage from forestry
operations, and review the broadleaved policy
1981
- Wildlife and Countryside Act – strengtheened protection in SSSI’s including
their management.
1985
– Broadleaves Policy (Forestry Commission) – policies introduced reduced
clearance and replanting with conifers that caused such a loss of ancient
woodlands.
1991
– Training to Forestry staff on management of ancient woodland
1992/1993
– Introduction of policies at an international level:
Statements of
Guidelines for
Sustainable Management of Forests in
(Thomas
(ii)
Policies
and practices towards the value, management and conservation of ancient
woodlands experienced an increase throughout the 80’s, 90’s and into the 21st
century.
These
increases were attributable to the increasing internationalisation of
conservation management practices, especially within
Following
this switch in favour of ancient woodlands, local, national and international
work has attempted to establish exactly how ancient woodlands can be conserved
and protected by developments.
One
of the best ways to protect ancient woodlands is by applying a designated status
to the location. Sites of Special Scientific Interest, which are commonly used
as a method of protecting ancient woodland is one of 11 different designations (shown
on the following page) that can be applied at local, regional and international
level to provide the conservation of ancient woodlands.
The
policy designations outlined above have provided protection needed by ancient
woodlands. However, there are difficulties in the establishment of such site
preservation schemes, needing local government administration, central
government funding and European enforcement.
Policy
designation on Ancient Woodlands did not stop with environmental and scientific
identification. Currently, there are an additional five types of conservation practice
used by governance at local, national and European scales:
1)
The National Forest Strategies
‘A
priority will be to work towards reversing this fragmentation by encouraging
the creation of new native woodlands located to create more viable woodland
units’
2)
National Planning Policy Guidance.
‘nature conservation and amenity value of ancient woodlands’
3)
Non-Statutory guidance:
‘to continue to protect ancient semi-natural woodland and
encourage forms of management which conserve their special characteristics’
4)
TPOs –Tree Preservation Orders
‘prohibits the cutting down, topping, lopping, damage or
destruction of trees, groups of trees or woodlands’
5)
Felling licenses – Forestry Act 1967
‘a felling licence is required from the Forestry Commission
for felling of over 5 cubic metres of timber per quarter’
(L.U.C.
(iv)
The
policies of ancient woodland forest management introduced since the beginning
of the 1980’s have been managed by a wide variety of different organisations.
In the 1930’s Central government and the Crown decided policy and practice of
ancient woodland management. Now however there is increasing participation
between local, regional, national and international bodies. This partnership
results in the exchanging of data related to ancient forests, discussion and
conventions on the management of ancient woodlands and most importantly the
practice of providing conservation in ancient woodlands.
The
organisations involved with ancient woodland management are outlined below. The
range of bodies with an interest and active role within the conservation of
ancient woodlands indicates the increase in awareness of the value of ancient
woodlands experienced in recent decades.
LPA’s
– Local Planning Authorities
- development plans
- Tree Preservation Orders
- planning applications
- Surveys, Holding Ancient Woodland
Inventory data
Forestry
Commission
- the designated government
department in
- advises ministers
- implementing separate and distinct forestry policy
- policies, grants and
licenses at regional level
Statutory
Nature Conservation Bodies - English Nature
- consultees to planning
applications
- promotion and interaction
within public
Non-Governmental
Organisations –
- involved in the protection of Ancient Woodlands
Woodland Trust – Taking a wider
advocacy role in protection
Wildlife Trusts – Involved in
SINCs/SLINCs and CWS
WWF – Lobbying at central government
level and with ministers
Learning
Resource Centres (LRCs)
- key role in coordinating
biological recording at a local level.
- Informs planning decisions and development policy.
(taken from L.U.C. (iii)
There
has been a shift in governance of ancient woodlands. With international status
now recognised, ancient woodlands receive conservation management from a wide
variety of different organisations.
However,
despite the successes of designating ancient forests as SSSI and others, only
16% of the total area of Ancient Woodland is protected under this status.
(Goldsmith (iii) Therefore much more woodland needs to
be protected and designated to provide the levels of protection needed for this
priceless ecological resource.
Mentioned
by Thomas is the overlap that con occur between different conservation methods,
‘this may lead to a duplication of effort, but more often they reinforce each
other an stimulate new conservation activity’ (Thomas (iii).
This
resonates the reason for partnership developments
between conservation bodies which are emerging at the most recent of proposed
policies toward woodland management and several other environmental issues.
So
in overall conclusion, current practice and policy does favour the conservation
of Ancient Woodland habitat types. The participation and cooperation of: central
and local government in planning decisions, private businesses in development
proposals and non-statutory organisations in informing the public are all
needed to ensure the future conservation of Ancient Woodland habitat types.
1,755
words
Bibliography
Goldsmith F. B. & A.
Part 2, Chapter 6. i) p69 ii) p87 iii) p77
i) 1.1 ii) Table 2.2 iii) 2.21-2.28 iv) 2.12-2.19
Thomas
R. C. et al (1997) Biological
Conservation. The conservation of a fragmented ecosystem
within a cultural landscape. 82. p243-252 i) Abstract ii) Table 2 p246
iii) p249
Watkins
C. (1998) European Woods and Forests
– Studies in cultural history. CAB International
i) p223 Idea of ‘Ancient
Woodland’
The
Ancient