Sustainable Management of Deciduous Woodlands (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)

Revision Note

Sustainable forestry (as defined at the Helsinki conference) is:
- ‘The use of forests and lands in such a way, and at such a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity and regenerative capacity’

Approach	Examples
Woodland management	Restricting large-scale clear felling on steep slopes Controlling post-logging soil erosion Pollarding to prevent trees from toppling over Designating woodland SSSIs or Special Conservation Areas (SCA) Marketing and selling sustainable timber products by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)
Wildlife management	Monitor grazing Fencing off areas of forest against animal grazing Encourage growth and development of a variety of habitats and ecological niches Preventing invasive species
Leisure and tourism	Well-managed visitor centres Signposted woodland trails Car parks Designated cycle trails Well-managed activities, e.g. Go Ape
Education	The Forestry Commission plays a valuable role, such as advising people to: Replace felled trees with more deciduous species Use pesticides and herbicides sparingly to avoid any damage to the woodland Runs courses in sustainable woodland management for private woodland owners and supports volunteers in conservation work

New Forest is located on the south coast of England
Covers 480km2
Approximately 175,000 people live in the area
Popular with tourists (brings £500 million)
Annually, there are 15 million visitors
Visitors trample on plants, cause erosion by walking, drop litter, and start fires with BBQs
Animals are sometimes hit by cars
Commercial logging occurs so access is restricted
Approximately 40% of woodland is privately owned and not managed

New trees are planted to replace those cut down
Pesticide use is limited to prevent damage to the ecosystem
Work is restricted between April and August, which minimises the disturbance to nesting birds
Sustainable transport schemes for tourists (bike and electric car hire)
- This helps to reduce congestion and air pollution
Landowners funded to plant native tree species by NPA (National Park Authority)
Awareness-raising by NPA on the importance of sustainability in New Forest
Green Leaf Tourism Scheme: businesses use local products where possible, encourage walking and cycling, and set aside 10% of land for local wildlife
Local landowners get grants from the NPA to help improve biodiversity in their woodlands

Last updated: 15 April 2024

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