The Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences, Forest Research (the Research Agency of the Forestry Commission Great Britain) is organising a conference to share experiences and responses to the trends shaping the societal perceptions, management and use of British trees and forests, and to identify future research needs in support of policy.
Themes:
Woods, trees and wellbeing.
What does recent learning tell us about the contribution of woods and trees to improved health and wellbeing, and how these benefits are socially distributed? How does volunteering contribute? How can woodlands be used to change individual and community behaviours? What are the impacts of green infrastructure on communities?
Economic perspectives.
In balancing imperatives of tackling climate change with other demands of multi-purpose forestry, how are implicit trade-offs best established? Which policy instruments have been most cost-effective in enhancing multiple public benefits of forestry, and why? What land use planning tools are available that could help increase the cost-effectiveness of multipurpose woodland creation and conservation? How is forestry integrated into spatial planning processes?
Woodlands, community development and social enterprise.
How are woodlands being used to further community development and social enterprise? Are there benefits for social cohesion, sense of place and quality of life? Can trees and woodland be used to build skills or social capital and facilitate social change in issues in specific communities?
Changing governance of trees and forests in contemporary Britain.
What are the policy drivers for change in woodland management? How is forestry being integrated within decentralised systems of decision making and planning? What mechanisms exist for the wider inclusion of individuals and communities? What is the impact of these changes?
The science-policy interface.
We are also interested in abstracts which describe or evaluate new research methods around the themes outlined above. We are particularly keen to hear more about “research-as-evidence” and the link between science and policy and methods used to influence policy making processes, including the role of knowledge brokers and “infomediation”, as well as integration of citizen science.
Delegate registration forms and more information about the programme and venue are available from www.forestresearch.gov.uk/treesandsociety
or by contacting Evelyn Hall: evelyn.hall@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
