England’s non-woodland trees have been mapped for the first time, using cutting-edge methods of laser detection and satellite imagery.
Tree scientists at the UK’s Forest Research agency have built a comprehensive picture of trees in urban and rural areas in a “groundbreaking” map that goes live on Saturday.
The tool will allow conservation groups and local authorities to target tree-planting efforts more accurately by pinpointing lone trees that could be connected to nearby wooded areas, bolstering habitats for wildlife, they said.
The environment department, Defra, said this would support the government’s pledge to expand nature-rich habitats and help to achieve its legally binding target to increase England’s woodland canopy to 16.5% of total land area by 2050.
The forestry minister, Mary Creagh, said: “Our precious street trees improve air quality, mark the changing seasons and provide us with peace, shade and joy. Their value simply cannot be overstated.
“This groundbreaking new tree census will not only help us better understand our current tree canopy cover, but allow us to identify areas where we can create more nature-rich habitats for wildlife and people to enjoy as part of our plan for change.”
Sir William Worsley, the chair of the Forestry Commission, said: “This has been a real endeavour by the team – the results are spectacular and will be invaluable to us as we strive to meet our legal target to increase tree-planting cover.
“The map fills critical data gaps about our national tree assets, helping us understand this natural resource and the benefits it brings, including carbon storage. Many people – from citizens to governments – will use the map to make evidence-based decisions to improve management and protection of our trees.”
Freddie Hunter, the head of remote sensing at Forest Research, said: “This is an exciting moment. By using the latest technology, we have been able to pinpoint all tree cover across England, including trees outside of woodland for the first time.
“This laser technology measures the Earth’s surface using satellite imagery, which we can use to capture tree canopy cover form a comprehensive picture across the breadth of the country and will be vital in informing future tree-planting”.
The maps shows single trees make up 30% of England’s tree cover. They could play an important role in storing carbon, regulating temperatures and mitigating against climate change impacts, such as flooding and overheating in towns and cities, Defra said.
The trees can also help to improve health and wellbeing in urban areas by boosting nature and reducing the impacts of air pollution.
The map, which is fully automated and can be updated regularly to capture changes in tree canopy cover, was funded by Defra’s natural capital and ecosystem assessment (NCEA) programme.
It comes as part of wider government efforts to boost woodlands, including recent announcements of a new national forest, increasing timber in construction to boost forestry and sustainable housebuilding and a dedicated tree-planting taskforce.
