An important new report has been published by the South West Rainforest Alliance – a coalition of organisations and individuals that Moor Trees is proud to be a founding member. The report explores the specific temperate and climatic conditions which make up the temperate rainforest zone and how here in the South West of England we are so fortunate to have these globally significant habitats.
However, the state that the fragments of our temperate rainforests are in is not to be so celebrated. There are too few, and those that remain are too fragmented, with some prime locations for this habitat to thrive having little or no tree cover at all. Even though around one million hectares of the South West offers the appropriate climatic conditions to support a rainforest landscape.
Lead author of the report, and former trustee of Moor Trees, Dr Thomas Murphy, Lecturer in Environmental Sciences at the University of Plymouth, said: “We found temperate rainforests face numerous threats in the South West of England, but there are also massive opportunities for restoration and expansion of this globally significant habitat. In our restoration efforts it is critical that we prioritise, and target the areas which will provide the biggest benefits for rainforest conservation. We hope our report, and the new restoration model and map, will help organisations in the region to focus their efforts around the most appropriate locations.”
Less than 10% of the South West’s rainforest climatic zone currently includes suitable woodland and only 1% of existing woodlands are located in the most favourable zone that supports temperate rainforests (called the hyper-oceanic zone), highlighting just how rare these habitats are.
Back in the 1990s, the founders of Moor Trees were inspired by the work of Trees for Life in Scotland to set about seeing what could be done on Dartmoor to restore our ancient forests. These woodlands included the fragments of temperate rainforests that are the focus of vital restoration activity today within the landscape.
Jess Duffy, Moor Trees’ Woodland Officer said, “At Moor Trees we are passionate about temperate rainforests and proud to be supporting their restoration and expansion on Dartmoor including at Wistman’s Wood. The new State of the South West Temperate Rainforest report highlights their vulnerability to a wide range of threats and risks. Together we must regenerate larger, more connected and dynamic temperate rainforests to support their future resilience. We look forward to collaborating further on this vital work with Dartmoor landowners, other organisations and members of the South West Rainforest Alliance to accelerate the change that is needed to protect this rare, and globally important ecosystem.”
The Woodland Trust, on behalf of the South West Rainforest Alliance (SWRA), commissioned the report to help guide the group’s strategy and partnership to counteract these threats and raise the awareness of the extremely rare and important temperate rainforests of Devon and Cornwall. The report has also resulted in the creation of an interactive map showing the areas where temperate rainforests could thrive within the rainforest zone.
The SWRA is a partnership of organisations and individuals committed to actively conserving and restoring these temperate rainforests, and working with landowners and other agencies to identify suitable locations for more woodlands to be created and expanded into the future. Its members have united to pursue a shared vision: a rainforest landscape that is thriving once again – richer in biodiversity, better connected, and more resilient to future threats.
To help support Moor Trees’ ongoing work to restore and expand temperate rainforest habitats on Dartmoor please support our Plant the Future Crowdfunder
Image of Black-a-Tor Copse (c) Moor Trees, 2025
