THE Dyfi Valley is being turned into a “living research laboratory” to shed new light on complex environmental interactions.
As part of the project, Welsh Government woodlands within the area have been designated as the “Welsh Research Forest”.
The initiative
THE Dyfi Valley is being turned into a “living research laboratory” to shed new light on complex environmental interactions.
As part of the project, Welsh Government woodlands within the area have been designated as the “Welsh Research Forest”.
The initiative will also link up with EcoDyfi, the sustainable land use scheme involving farmers and other landowners.
The Dyfi Catchment and Woodland Research Platform, launched in Machynlleth last week, will examine how climate change affects the landscape and how people and wildlife interact with it.
Scientists from Aberystwyth University and Forest Research in Wales (FRW) hope it will improve ways in which the environment is managed.
FRW head Prof Hugh Evans said the project will encompass various disciplines, from geology to climate and human activities, and examine a variety of different habitats, from blanket bogs to sand dunes.
He said: “We hope it will provide answers to key questions, such as how trees influence the landscape, including water flow and quality, and provide a strong evidence base for managing our environment for everyone’s benefit.”