Bangor University researchers will play a key role in a new research programme to identify productive and climate-resilient tree species for Wales.

Forest Research, Great Britain’s leading forestry research agency, has been commissioned by Welsh Government to develop a list of tree species which will help strengthen the resilience, productivity and long-term sustainability of Welsh woodlands. Woodknowledge Wales, Bangor University and Edinburgh Napier University will work with Forest Research to develop the shortlist to identify a shortlist of productive tree species, suited to both current and predicted future climatic conditions in Wales.

The need for such a shortlist has been highlighted by the Welsh Government’s “Making wood work for Wales” timber industrial strategy, and similar programmes across the UK. Scotland recently completed its own shortlisting project, funded by Scottish Forestry, and parallel work is now underway in England, funded by Defra.