Turning over a new LEAF

The Leeds Ecosystem, Atmosphere and Forest (LEAF) Centre has launched at Leeds, bringing together forest-related research across campus.

Borneo_forest

By linking researchers across faculties, LEAF will strengthen existing collaborations and encourage new inter-departmental partnerships, establishing the University as a leading national centre in forest research.

LEAF will host regular workshops and maintain an active online presence, providing researchers with opportunities to disseminate the findings of their work.

LEAF will also act as a means for the end-users of forest research to connect with the academics that produce it. This will ensure that research conducted here has a tangible and beneficial impact on the world’s forests and their communities.

LEAF co-ordinator, Dr Cat Scott, said: “There’s lots of really great forest-related research going on across the University of Leeds so we wanted to find a way to bring it all together, and make it more accessible for people outside the University. As well as helping us collaborate with each other, we hope that LEAF will be helpful to external organisations, such as NGOs, charities and businesses, who use the results of our forest research to inform their policies, actions and investments. ”

The LEAF Launch featured presentations from members of the Schools of Geography, Biology, Earth & Environment, Chemistry, and English. The topics discussed ranged from measurements of biodiversity change after logging in Borneo, to how forests affect the climate, and the origins of the words that we use to describe woodlands.

In addition to the academic presenters the launch event also featured external speakers with experience in forest conservation work.

Samantha Gibson from Bettys & Taylors Group spoke about the Yorkshire Rainforest Project, which the company has worked on with the Rainforest Foundation UK and the Ashaninka people of Peru, helping to preserve an area of Peruvian rainforest the size of the Yorkshire Dales.

Jonathan Wild, Chairman of the United Bank of Carbon, spoke about the benefits of a connected approach, between researchers and end-users, when trying to make a real impact in forest conservation.

Find out more about LEAF through the Centre website or follow LEAF on Twitter: @Leeds_LEAF

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