This report, prepared by ERM in collaboration with Prof. Ken Willis for the Woodland Trust, shows the contribution woodland makes to our quality of life, through economic, environmental and social benefits.
Woodland contributes to our quality of life by:
• providing a place for recreation and improving the quality of our surroundings.
• contributing to our own and our children ’s education and allowing us to live a healthier life.
• absorbing harmful greenhouse gases.
• forming a vital part of much-loved landscapes.
• conserving our world ’s biodiversity by providing habitats for numerous animal and plant species.
Woodland is also the basis for the timber industry and can contribute to a more diverse rural economy.
Woodland has the ability to help improve 11 of the Government's 15 headline "Quality of Life" indicators for the UK and 21 of the national indicators. The area of woodland in the UK, the protection and expansion of ancient and semi-natural woodland and the sustainable management of woodland are also national indicators in their own right.
Woodland makes a major contribution to the UK's sustainable development policy along with policies on health, education, social inclusion, rural development and biodiversity.
The full document can be downloaded in PDF format here here.
