Press Release

Trees manifesto offers cooling influence in election debate  

12 March 2008
 
London’s trees have taken root in the Mayoral election agenda, as Trees for Cities and The Woodland Trust have come together and are today launching an eight-point ‘Manifesto for London’s Trees and Woods’.
The Manifesto highlights the need to protect and enhance London’s trees and woodlands for the health and well-being of the capital - www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/london:

It covers issues ranging from trees’ ability to cool London in ever-hotter summers and soak up carbon dioxide in the face of climate change to arguing for protection of heritage trees and promoting the many benefits of getting children involved in tree planting.

The Manifesto has been jointly produced by Trees for Cities – an independent charity working with local communities on tree-planting and landscaping projects - and the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.

They are calling on London’s politicians, including the Mayoral candidates, to endorse and offer their backing for the eight recommendations in the Manifesto by supporting tree planting and protection measures for trees that currently provide a canopy for 20% of London’s land area.

The Manifesto is backed by scientific research on the effect global warming will have on major cities, where a modest increase in the number of urban parks and street trees could help mitigate against the predicted future temperature rises. A University of Manchester study calculated that a 10% increase in the amount of green space in built-up centres would reduce urban surface temperatures by as much as 4°C.

‘Londoners benefit every day from the capital’s wonderful trees and woodlands,’ says the Manifesto. ‘Beyond the boost to health and well-being for those who visit woodlands, trees help to moderate the local climate keeping the city cool in our ever hotter climate, clean polluted urban air, reduce the risk of flooding, provide a home for wildlife and help combat climate change by absorbing harmful carbon dioxide.’

The Manifesto highlights the struggle to protect and enhance the capital’s trees which, despite their huge value, face many threats from climate change, development and misplaced fears about health and safety and subsidence.

It calls for trees and woodland to feature in significant development proposals, including the 2012 Olympic sites, funding for a major tree planting programme, protection of ancient woodland, and integration of trees in London’s strategies for mitigating, and adapting to, climate change.

Additionally, London’s politicians should back initiatives that help Londoners get involved with their local trees and woodland and the recording of all trees and woods on a database for future monitoring and protection. It even suggests a new London Woodlands Awards Scheme to recognise the creation of new woodland and good management of existing woodland.

Diane Millis, Woodland Trust regional policy officer, attended the recent London Mayoral hustings and queried each candidate’s vision for trees and woodlands against threats of development and climate change.

“All four main candidates appeared sympathetic, keen on tree planting and protecting the trees we already have. Quite rightly, they see woodland as a way of improving Londoners’ quality of life and recognise the need to plant tree species that will survive in the face of climate change.

“What we must do, however, is ensure that election promises turn into continued action for the sake of London’s environment, landscape and the downright fun, beauty and therapy that trees add to that. They are the city’s green lung.”

Graham Simmonds, Chief Executive of Trees for Cities, adds: “Our Manifesto is all about ensuring that Londoners and visitors to London can benefit from a tree and woodland resource consistent with London’s position as a leading world city – we urge politicians from all parties to do what they can in helping us realise our green vision for the capital.”

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/london:

London Tree Factfile:

Greater London boasts around seven million trees, a quarter of them in woodland covering some eight per cent of the capital’s land area. Although there has been some replanting to replace the 40,000 trees lost in the last five years, one third of London boroughs have still suffered a net loss of street trees.

Current Mayor Ken Livingstone launched his London Tree and Woodland Framework – ‘Connecting Londoners with Trees and Woodlands’ in March 2005.

The ‘Right Trees for London’s Changing Climate’ project has been developed from that framework, including a database for planners and landscape designers to decide which trees are suitable for planting, launched by the Mayor last November as a way to help London cope with the effects of climate change.