Plant assemblages in British beech woodlands within and beyond native range: Implications of future climate change for their conservation

In Britain, some climate change models predict a shift in the climatic suitability envelope for beech (Fagus sylvatica) to the north and west, beyond its past-native range, whereas much of the current conservation effort targets beech woodlands in the south and east. Possible implications for the conservation of typical beech woodland plant assemblages were explored by comparing the occurrence of the component species in southern (inside past-native range) and northern England (outside past-native range, but within future climate-suitability envelope) through comparison of county lists of plants, and direct comparison of stands in each region.Most plants listed in the National Vegetation Classification beech woodland community tables already occur in the two northern counties’ plant lists. There was also much overlap in the species recorded in the field surveys between northern and southern sites. Thus, there appears to be good potential for beech woods beyond their past-native range to develop assemblages similar to those currently valued in southern Britain.A short questionnaire survey of 47 individuals involved in forestry and conservation management in Britain suggests that while climate change is recognised as a factor that will affect future conservation management, there is less acceptance to date of a need to modify current policies and practice to take account of possible future range changes.