Forest Migration

Qiyao Han and Greg Keeffe of Queen’s University, Belfast have performed a study on afforestation in response to climate change and tree species distribution, exploring two different methods to increase tree canopy densities in urban areas, using local frugivorous bird species as seed dispersal agents. One model explored planting ‘infill trees’ in gardens, bits of wasteland and surrounding buildings, and the other model explored larger-scale afforestation as woodland creation in more open, public spaces to establish ‘stepping stone’ patches as well as habitats for the Eurasian jay, the Eurasian siskin and the coal tit. This would encourage their transurban movement and seed dispersal in the area, further compounding this afforestation. Models of the latter strategy found that this method of afforestation would establish 2,914 ha of woodlands in public spaces, would increase the possibility of seed dispersal by over 100% for all 3 birds, and increase the bird’s collective migration probability by 243%.