Citizen Science and Forestry

Citizen Science and Tree Health:

Experience from the Ancient Ash Trees in Eden Project

Edward Wilson Silviculturist

North West Tree Health Group Kendal, Cumbria 19 November 2014

First presented: 19 11 2014 This version: v1.1, 20 11 2014

RESEARCH

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Citizen science in forest conservation

• Citizen science is scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur or nonprofessional scientists.

• Also known as crowd science, crowd-sourced science, civic science, or networked science.

• Involves the systematic collection and analysis of data; the development of technology; the testing of natural phenomena; and the dissemination of these activities by researchers on a primarily avocational basis.

• Not a new concept, a long tradition in scientific discovery, especially dating from the Victorian period.

• Well suited to forestry and conservation projects where data is collected over a large area or in multiple years. For example, applications have included seasonal phenology studies, monitoring disease spread, determining species distribution, and more.

• Wide range of benefits for participants, from developing new skills and experience, to personal growth and enjoyment.

• Further reading on Citizen Science: BBC News article on Citizen Science by Tom Feilden, 15 October 2013.

Ash in Cumbria

• > 2,400 ha of woodland

• > 550,000 individual trees outside woodland

• Dominant species on several soil types/ locations

• Important associate in many woodlands

• Source: National Forest Inventory, Forestry Commission

Source: Flora of Cumbria, 1997

Photo: E. R. Wilson 2013

Ash trees at Long Meg Stone Circle, Cumbria

Ancient Ash Trees in Eden Project

• Objectives – Raise awareness and interest in heritage trees in Eden

District – Raise awareness of tree health issues, especially Chalara

ash dieback – Train and empower dedicated “tree buddies” to identify,

record and REPORT tree health issues (using the OPAL Tree Health Survey) and FC Tree Alert.

• Partnership – Team: Dani Leslie/Ted Wilson, Heart of Eden Development

Trust, Silviculture Research International – Support: OPAL Tree Health Survey (Alison Dyke) – Funding: Heritage Lottery Fund

Ancient Ash Trees in Eden Project

• Structure and Approach – Workshops: 6 one-day workshops – Community Talks: >10 talks and presentations – Support: Online support with upload of data to OPAL – Leaflet and report produced:

• Information leaflet (printed and distributed through Visitor Information Centres in Cumbria)

• Eden’s ancient ash tree trail (book – print and online)

• Outputs – >80 tree buddies trained – (>300 reached via wider series of talks) – Report published July 2014 – Media coverage (BBC Radio Cumbria (2 reports), Local Press (>6

reports)) – Links with other organisations:

• OPAL, Ancient Tree Forum, Parish Councils, Lowther Estate, local natural history societies, (FC, FR, etc)

Mayburgh Henge, near Penrith, Cumbria Ash in Eden Project, Workshop 1, 5 October 2013

Mayburgh Henge is located just east of the M6 motorway and south of Penrith, Cumbria.

www.silviculture.org.uk/ashineden

TREES AT

MAYBURGH HENGE

CUMBRIA

oak

ash

Legend

9

10

11

12

14 13

15

16

17

18

19

20

21 23

22

24

25

26

27

Photo: E. R. Wilson 2013

Photo: E.R. Wilson 2013 The Eden Ash Tree Buddies

Selected Citizen Science Projects

• OPAL – Tree Health Survey – http://www.opalexplorenature.org/TreeSurvey

• Forestry Commission – Tree Alert – http://www.forestry.gov.uk/treealert – App for Basic and Advanced Reporter

• Observatree – http://www.observatree.org.uk/ – EU Life Project, funded for 4 years from 2013 – Forest Research, Fera, National Trust, Woodland Trust.

• AshTag – http://ashtag.org/ – Tagging and monitoring status of ash trees

• TreeWatch - Sylva Foundation – www.sylva.org.uk/treewatch – Project 2012-2013

• Treezilla – http://treezilla.org/ – Citizen science project, mapping

Roadside Survey of Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) A66 Penrith to Keswick, 11 Nov 2012

Lake District, Cumbria

Borrowdale

St John’s in the Vale

Watendlath

Continuous band of common ash saplings (natural regeneration) on north side of A66

View looking east from near Scales, Cumbria Photo: E.R. Wilson 2012

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Ash

De

nsi

ty S

core

Distance in Kilometres PenrithA66/M6 Junction 40

KeswickA66/A591 Junction

No ash present

Continuous distribution, high density

Continuous distribution, moderate density

Discontinuous distribution, low density

West East

Ancient Ash Trees Borrowdale

Roadside Survey of Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) A66 Penrith to Keswick, 11 Nov 2012

Potential disease spread from East

Conclusions

• Opportunities for citizen involvement/partnership – Mapping and Categorising the high

value locations • cultural/ecological values

– Monitoring and Reporting Tree Health Status • professionals and citizen engagement

– Science to inform future action • initiated and pending activities that

support policy and practical measures for disease control.

Conclusions

• Going Forward

– One Stop Shop • Coordinated regional

partnership with common purpose is required

• Shared experience and resourcing among organisations and local groups

– Build on local successes and experience • e.g., Lake District Osprey

Project, Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group, Ancient Ash Trees in Eden Project, etc

Conclusions

• Challenges and Opportunities

– Establishing working partnerships

– Coordinating activity, setting achievable goals and targets

– Training and sustaining interest from volunteers

– Funding to sustain projects over multiple years

– Recognise that we have a large number of enthusiastic citizens who wish to be involved

Citizen Science and Forestry

Acknowledgements

My thanks to the following colleagues and organisations: Dani Leslie; Martin Reid; Ian Jack, Lowther Estate; Richard Sharpe; Heart of Eden Development Trust; Alison Dyke, OPAL Tree Health Survey; Ancient Tree Forum; The Tree Register; Woodland Trust; Our many volunteers and workshop participants. Funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Contact Information

Edward Wilson

Email: ted.wilson@silviculture.org.uk

Web: www.silviculture.org.uk

RESEARCH

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

First presented: 19 11 2014 This version: v1.0, 19 11 2014