Valuing mental health benefits of forests

This research examines approaches to valuation of the mental health benefits of forests and proposes how monetary valuation of these benefits can be developed further. It examines metrics to quantify mental health impacts, methodologies to value changes in these and potential for incorporating associated values into natural capital accounting

Above and belowground ecological linkages in temperate forest soils

Olivia Azevedo, PhD studentship, University of Stirling (2019-2022)   Background Forests are crucial for biodiversity and also provide numerous ecosystem services that enhance human welfare. However, when studying forests, often the complexity of life belowground either goes unnoticed or it is studied in isolation from its aboveground component. Compartmentalising the above and belowground...

Forest damage by deer depends on cross‐scale interactions between climate, deer density and landscape structure

This journal paper investigates the factors that drive deer damage to woodlands using the National Forest Inventory sample square data. We found that the likelihood of damage to trees depends on cross-scale interactions between climate, deer density and landscape structure. The complex interactive effects uncovered are difficult to interpret. We therefore provide an interactive Deer Damage Tool for practitioners to visualize how afforestation is likely to influence the probability of deer damage in different forests and regions across Britain.

Attitudes to Woodland Expansion in Southern Scotland

A review of the methods available for eliciting local attitudes to woodland expansion (or other land use change), and findings from an attitudinal study in Southern Scotland.

A sequential multi-level framework to improve habitat suitability modelling

We provide a sequential framework for improved multi-scale habitat suitability modelling or species distribution modelling. We apply it to the lesser horseshoe bat in Britain to demonstrate its improved accuracy and ecological inference.

Predicting hedgehog mortality risks on British roads using habitat suitability modelling

An analysis of citizen science hedgehog roadkill data has revealed why, when and where vehicle-hedgehog collisions are most likely to occur. The approach involved a multi-scale habitat suitability model. Suburban areas with mixtures of urban and grassland were found to be roadkill hotspots.

Nature based vocational training leading to human wellbeing in Skåne, Sweden

The Nature Integration Programme facilitates sustainable integration of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants into society. Many of these groups have been taken in by Sweden in recent years.

UK landscape ecology: trends and perspectives from the first 25 years of ialeUK

With 2017 marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of the UK chapter of the International Association for Landscape Ecology (ialeUK), current members of its organising committee set out to examine the content of past ialeUK conferences and, with input from past ialeUK contributors, reflect on what observed patterns might mean for shaping future landscape research.

BioCoRe: An interactive/adaptable landscape ecology approach for targeting restoration

Andrew Rattey Chloe Bellamy Kevin Watts

Achieving impact from ecosystem assessment and valuation of urban greenspace: The case of i-Tree Eco in Great Britain

Evaluation of the impacts of I-Tree eco surveys in the UK

Valuing tree and forest ecosystem services

Our research explores the value of different tree and forest ecosystem services and uses innovative methods to identify and capture those values

Valuing and governing tree and forest ecosystem services

This research provides new insights into how to recognise and understand the value of ecosystem services provided by trees and forests.