Baggio-Compagnucci, A., Ovando, P., Hewitt, R.J., Canullo, R., & Gimona, A. (2022). Barking up the wrong tree? Can forest expansion help meet climate goals? Environmental Science & Policy

Abstract. Forest expansion can make an important contribution to the 2015 Paris Agreement, through offsetting Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. EU, UK and Scottish forest policy encourages substantial forest expansion. Unfortunately, policy is still inadequately informed by high resolution data, and often assumes a fairly homogenous landscape, uniformly suitable soil types and idealised ‘average’ tree timber yields, while carbon emissions caused by soil disturbance during planting, and changes in climate are rarely adequately considered.