Fir's fair: UK must embrace conifers in climate fight, says forestry chief

Non-native species must be part of the mix if the UK is to meet it's tree-planting targets, says outgoing Forestry Commission head Sir Harry StudholmeNon-native conifer plantations have long been a scourge of conservationists - blamed for wiping out woodland species and disfiguring landscapes. But exotic conifers will be better at tackling the climate emergency than much-cherished broadleaved woodlands, according to the outgoing chairman of the Forestry Commission.Sir Harry Studholme, who has headed England's forestry agency for the last seven years, warned that there must not be a repeat of past mistakes in the rush to plant trees to meet the government's target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Continue reading...