New report warns South West’s rare temperate rainforests at risk

A major new study has raised the alarm over the condition of the South West’s temperate rainforests - one of the rarest habitat types on Earth - highlighting both their fragility and the significant opportunities for restoration.

Temperate rainforests, known for their exceptional biodiversity and role in climate regulation, have long been part of the region’s landscape, with iconic sites such as Wistman’s Wood on Dartmoor and Horner Woods near Exmoor. Yet only small, scattered fragments remain, and researchers warn these remnants are increasingly threatened by climate change, grazing pressures and invasive species.

According to The State of the South West Rainforests report, around 40% of the region, just under one million hectares, has the climatic conditions needed to support rainforest ecosystems. However, less than 10% of that area is currently covered by suitable woodland, and only 1% of existing woodland falls within the hyper-oceanic zone, considered the most favourable for temperate rainforest growth.

The research, carried out by the University of Plymouth, also found that ancient woodland, classed by sites that have existed since at least 1600 and account for 2% of suitable land, lacks adequate protection. Only 15% of these areas are recognised as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), despite their ecological value.

Dr Thomas Murphy, Lecturer in Environmental Sciences at the University of Plymouth and Lead Author of the report, 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.”

Commissioned by the Woodland Trust on behalf of the South West Rainforest Alliance (SWRA), the report aims to inform a regional strategy to protect and restore the surviving rainforest patches in Cornwall, Devon and parts of Somerset. The project has also produced an interactive map identifying where rainforests could be restored or expanded, and where existing woodlands are in urgent need of intervention.

Eleanor Lewis of the Woodland Trust said: “The Woodland Trust has been championing temperate rainforest conservation across the South West for decades. This piece of work has provided us with a really valuable snapshot of the extent and health of our rainforests in the region, as well as the urgent need for action. Significantly, it has provided us with an essential blueprint for how we prioritise efforts and collaborate to protect, restore and create this rare and vital habitat.”

The SWRA brings together organisations and individuals working to rebuild the region’s rainforest landscape, with a shared vision of restoring biodiversity, improving habitat connectivity and building resilience to future threats. Their priorities, informed by the report’s geospatial analysis and research review, include identifying restoration hotspots, working with landowners and addressing the key drivers of habitat decline.

Ennia Bosshard, speaking on behalf of the SWRA, said: “This report shows just how rare and fragile the South West’s temperate rainforests are - and that we have both a unique opportunity and a shared responsibility to protect and restore one of the world’s rarest habitats. It provides our first ever baseline for understanding where these rainforests survive here in the South West, the key threats they face, and the priority areas for restoration and expansion. We hope it also inspires people to get involved - whether by joining local community conservation projects, supporting research and monitoring, or restoring woodland on their land - so that together we can safeguard these extraordinary rainforests for the future.”

The report was funded by the Woodland Trust with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.