From quantity to quality: the evolution of forest restoration in the
United Kingdom
Susanne Raum, Maitane Erdozain, Keith Kirby, Iciar Alberdi, Sergio de‐Miguel Abstract
Introduction
Over the past century, forest cover in the United Kingdom has increased threefold. However, the pathways, achievements, and shortcomings of this expansion remain underexplored.
Objectives
This study analyses the drivers, implementation, and legacies of forest restoration in the United Kingdom before and after 1990, which is when pivotal European environmental policies were introduced.
Methods
Drawing on literature and expert opinion, we distinguish between efforts focused on expanding forest cover and those aimed at enhancing ecological quality.
Results
Forest expansion in the early twentieth century was driven by crises (wars, timber shortages) and by government incentives that prioritized coniferous plantations over native forests. These policies successfully expanded cover but often undermined ecological integrity and social acceptance. In the late twentieth century, restoration goals became increasingly tied to biodiversity conservation, driven by international obligations and societal values. Approaches ranging from (re‐)afforestation, protecting and restoring native woodlands, to rewilding have gained importance in the twenty‐first century, supported by best‐practice standards, certification schemes, guidelines, and grants.
Conclusions
Despite these efforts, native woodlands remain poorly protected, and only a small proportion (7%) is in favorable condition. Legacies of past management that are hard to overcome, policy fragmentation, weak enforcement of conservation measures, and reliance on unstable incentive schemes continue to hinder progress.