The Nature for Climate Fund (NCF) Programme, supported by DEFRA, is a key initiative aimed at tackling climate change and boosting biodiversity.
Running until March 2025, it runs a range of projects across the UK, including 30 research projects here at Forest Research (FR). These aim to advance our understanding of woodlands, and develop innovative management strategies to support woodland health & expansion.
What is the NCF Programme?
The NCF Programme aligns with the England Trees Action Plan (ETAP) and the Environmental Improvement Plan. These plans aim to:
- Increase tree cover
- Improve woodland management
- Enhance forest resilience
Forest Research’s role
The NCF programme at Forest Research manages 30 funded research projects. We collaborate with 27 partner organisations, including universities, charities, and businesses. Our role is to develop evidence-based strategies for effective woodland management and expansion. Alongside our research work, we also collaborate with 6 institutions to train future forest scientists, ensuring the continued growth of expertise in forestry research.
Research themes
The NCF Programme covers four interconnected themes:
- Treescape Expansion: Aims to increase woodland cover in urban and rural areas. Projects explore tree planting methods, agroforestry, and the impact of development on ancient woodlands.
- Treescape Management: Aims to enhance existing woodlands. Research includes biodiversity in commercial forests, tree-peat interactions, and wildlife management strategies.
- Resilience: Aims to make forests more resilient to climate change. Projects include developing our Climate Resilience Hub, studying drought impacts, and creating experimental forests.
- Benefits: Examines the wider benefits of woodlands, such as public access, the economics of woodland creation, and developing a Woodland Water Code for hydrological benefits.
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Projects
Find out more about each of the research projects that are supported by the Nature for Climate Fund.
