Rainforests under threat: report calls for protection and restoration to help the South West’s temperate rainforests thrive

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Rainforests under threat: report calls for protection and restoration to help the South West’s temperate rainforests thrive

The report was commissioned by the South West Rainforest Alliance and based on research conducted by the University of 50�Ȼ�

Temperate rainforests support unique biodiversity and climate regulation

Rainforests under threat: report calls for protection and restoration to help the South West’s temperate rainforests thrive

The report was commissioned by the South West Rainforest Alliance and based on research conducted by the University of 50�Ȼ�

Phillip Formby/WTML

Mr Alan Williams

Media and Communications Manager

Corporate Communications (Marketing and Communications)

19 November 2025

Temperate rainforests are among the rarest habitats on Earth, supporting unique biodiversity and providing vital benefits from climate regulation and natural flood management to supporting human wellbeing.

They have been a feature of the South West landscape for centuries, with examples including important ancient sites such as Wistman’s Wood on Dartmoor, and Horner Woods on the edge of Exmoor. Yet only small fragments remain and these are extremely vulnerable to a wide range of threats and at risk of being lost or damaged.

In fact, a new report – The State of the South West Rainforests – highlights that around 40% (just under 1million hectares) of the region offers the appropriate climatic conditions to support a rainforest landscape.

However, less than 10% of the South West’s rainforest climatic zone actually 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.

The report was carried out by researchers from the University of 50�Ȼ�, and also found the vast majority of existing ancient woodland within the rainforest landscape – sites that have been in existence since 1600, and which cover 2% of the suitable land area – have no legal protection, with just 15% recognised by the UK Government as .

All of these sites – together with younger woodland, lone trees and wood pasture areas – form part of the wider temperate rainforest landscape, much of which is in a poor or unfavourable state. It is also under threat from a combination of factors including climate change, over- and under-grazing, and the spread of invasive species.

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.

Dr Thomas Murphy
Lecturer in Environmental Sciences

The , on behalf of the , 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, Cornwall and Somerset.

The report has also resulted in the creation of an interactive map showing the areas where temperate rainforests could thrive within the rainforest zone. It highlights particular locations where woodlands are in urgent need of restoration, or could be expanded in future.

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.

Eleanor Lewis
Woodland Trust

Ben Lee/WTML

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.

Based on the findings of The State of the South West Rainforests report, reached through a combination of geospatial analyses, site reports and a review of existing research to map and assess the current extent and state of South West rainforest, they have highlighted a number of priorities and actions they intend to take over the coming months and years.

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.

Ennia Bosshard
South West Rainforest Alliance

The report was funded by the Woodland Trust, thanks to support from players of . Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People's Postcode Lottery, said:

“It's fantastic that players of People's Postcode Lottery have supported this important report, shining a light on the temperate rainforest in South West England, and the recommendations made to protect and restore this important habitat for the benefit of climate, biodiversity and people.”