Tree provenance in a changing climate

This position statement sets out the Woodland Trust’s position on selecting suitable planting material (provenance).

It explores the scientific evidence on which provenances will be best adapted for UK sites in the long term.

It concludes that, for conservation objectives, there is no need to import southerly provenances of native tree species to support adaptation to climate change, and that this practice carries significant tree health and survival risks. The evidence indicates that native trees have a high capacity to adapt to change, especially if consideration is given to allowing regular cycles of natural regeneration.