- We outline the principles of the natural capital approach to decision making and apply these to the contemporary challenge of very significantly expanding woodlands as contribution to attaining net zero emissions of greenhouse gases.
- Drawing on the case of the UK, we argue that a single focus upon carbon storage alone is likely to overlook the other ‘net zero plus’ benefits which woodlands can deliver.
- A review of the literature considers the wide variety of potential benefits which woodlands can provide, together with costs such as foregone alternative land uses.
- We argue that decision making must consider all of these potential benefits and costs for the right locations to be planted with the right trees.
- The paper closes by reviewing the decision support systems necessary to incorporate this information into policy and decision making.
A review of planting principles to identify the right place for the right tree for ‘net zero plus’ woodlands: Applying a place-based natural capital framework for sustainable, efficient and equitable (SEE) decisions
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Research theme(s)
Policy, business & governance Synthesis & decision support
Policy, business & governance Synthesis & decision support
GGR Method(s)
Woodland creation and management
Woodland creation and management
Publication type
Article
Article
Author(s)
Ian J. Bateman, Karen Anderson, Arthur Argles, Claire Belcher, Richard A. Betts, Amy Binner, Richard E. Brazier, et al
Ian J. Bateman, Karen Anderson, Arthur Argles, Claire Belcher, Richard A. Betts, Amy Binner, Richard E. Brazier, et al
Publication date
May 8, 2022
May 8, 2022
Publisher
People and Nature
People and Nature