Forest Research is the Forestry Commission’s research agency. Forest Research is Great Britain’s principal organisation for forestry and tree related research and is internationally renowned for the provision of evidence and scientific services in support of sustainable forestry. Forest Research works for many Government departments, all the devolved administrations, forestry and land management stakeholders, environmental NGO’s and the European Union.

Our aims

• To provide evidence and expertise to inform the development and delivery of UK Government and devolved administration forest policies
• To provide innovative applied research, development, monitoring and scientific services to UK, European and international forestry stakeholders
• To transfer research knowledge directly, and/or in partnership with others, to UK and international audiences 

Our priorities

Our work is founded on the principle that research and evidence are central to informed policy-making and sustainable land management practices.  The Government’s Forestry and Woodlands Policy Statement(January 2013), Defra’s 10 Point Plan for Growth (2013) and also its One Business Evidence Project, the Welsh Government’s Woodland Strategy “Woodlands for Wales” (2009), the Scottish Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan (2013-16), and the Forestry Commission’s Science and Innovation Strategy (2014) have all helped to shape our priorities. 

Our priorities are to provide the science and evidence to:

• Protect our trees and forests
• Enhance forest ecosystem resilience and service provision
• Ensure sustainable management and adaptation of our forests to climate change
• Effect knowledge exchange
• Grow our business