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About LEAF
The Leeds Ecosystem, Atmosphere and Forest (LEAF) centre at the University of Leeds brings together forest-related research and activities from across campus. LEAF links the University with external organisations, such as local authorities, charities, government departments and the media, ensuring that our research has a tangible and beneficial impact on the world’s forests and their communities.
By linking researchers across faculties, LEAF aims to strengthen existing collaborations and encourage new inter-departmental partnerships, establishing the University of Leeds as a leading national centre in forest research. LEAF hosts regular events and maintains an active online presence, providing researchers with opportunities to disseminate the findings of their work.
News
New data for old trees
Researchers have been able to extract quantitative data on tree distributions from historical maps for the first time in Leeds and Edinburgh. These important new data are the result of new techniques, applying machine learning (ML) to help us understand more about how our cities have changed over time. The research was published this week...
Long Term Research funds for Gair Wood granted by the British Ecological Society
Five years of funding, with an option to extend by a further five-year period, have been made available by the British Ecological Society to support long-term research at Gair Wood. Currently, around 13% of the UK is woodland and the UK’s Climate Change Committee recommend increasing this coverage to 17-19% to support reaching a target...
Sheep removal could allow woodlands to self-plant in UK uplands
UK uplands could naturally establish new woodlands in areas where sheep are removed. Research from the Wild Ingleborough project, in the Yorkshire Dales, highlights the potential for ‘natural colonisation’ as an alternative technique to traditional tree planting. In the UK, uplands are often open landscapes with few trees or wooded areas. However, pollen records show...