ForeStClim photo exhibition and final conference comes to The Mersey Forest

A forestry and climate change project that has brought The Mersey Forest together with 20 other organisations from across Europe held its final conference in Liverpool this month.

The conference, which took place from 13-15 November, pulled together experts from all over the world to discuss the findings of ForeStClim, which was funded through the EU Interreg IVB programme. This project has examined the impact of climate change upon forestry, for example pinpointing the species of trees which will cope best in a warmer climate.

The conference kicked off with the opening of the International ForeStClim Photography Exhibition at Risley Moss Nature Reserve, Warrington, on Tuesday 13 November.
The exhibition includes 200 photographs submitted by professional and amateur photographers from all over the world. It will be on display in Warrington until February, when it will be relocated to Brittany, France.

Dr. Gebhard Schueler, director of the ForeStClim project, said: "The exhibition displays poignant images of the impact of climate change on humans and forestry.

"We believe that photographs can touch people and instigate change more effectively than scientific reports or studies."

The main conference took place the next day in Liverpool's Merseyside Maritime Museum, and included talks about climate change, biomass, green infrastructure planning and forest pests. On the final day, delegates spent a day in Sefton's coastal pinewoods, one of the project's study areas. See footage from the conference and field trip in this short video by Damon Peacock, one of the attendees. Our friends at Warrington Nature Conservation Forum also took some photos.

Pat McCloskey, Chair of The Mersey Forest Partnership said: "It's been really beneficial for The Mersey Forest to work with experts from across Europe. Learning from countries with hotter climates is helping us to prepare our local woods for the increased temperatures and other challenges that they will face in years to come."