South West could support a rainforest landscape, according to new report
The South West’s most unique forests and plants are now listed on a first of its kind map, which aims to help better protect them
Last updated 20th Nov 2025
A new report – The State of the South West Rainforests – suggests around 40% (just under one million hectares) of the region 'offers the appropriate climatic conditions to support a rainforest landscape' and more needs to be done to enhance and protect it.
Despite the recent snow and ice warning, the region is generally warmer or more 'temperate' than other areas and already supports many unique and internationally rare species.
Dr Thomas Murphy, Lecturer in Environmental Sciences at the University of Plymouth and lead author of the report, said: "We have many species which are known as endemic, and so they are not found anywhere else.
"We have real specialists plants and fauna and these are internationally rare and so we have a global responsibility to protect this habitat."
He says temperate rainforests 'are among the rarest habitats on Earth, supporting unique biodiversity and providing vital benefits from climate regulation and natural flood management to supporting human wellbeing'.
The University of Plymouth study found: "They have been a feature of the South West landscape for centuries, with examples including important ancient sites such as Wistman’s Wood on Dartmoor, and Horner Woods on the edge of Exmoor. Yet only small fragments remain and these are extremely vulnerable to a wide range of threats and at risk of being lost or damaged.
"However, less than 10% of the South West’s rainforest climatic zone actually includes suitable woodland and only 1% of existing woodlands are located in the most favourable zone that supports temperate rainforests (called the hyper-oceanic zone), highlighting just how rare these habitats are."
The report also found the vast majority of existing ancient woodland within the rainforest landscape – sites that have been in existence since 1600, and which cover 2% of the suitable land area – have no legal protection, with just 15% recognised by the UK Government as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
It added: "All of these sites – together with younger woodland, lone trees and wood pasture areas – form part of the wider temperate rainforest landscape, much of which is in a poor or unfavourable state. It is also under threat from a combination of factors including climate change, over- and under-grazing, and the spread of invasive species."
Dr Murphy added: “We found temperate rainforests face numerous threats in the South West of England, but there are also massive opportunities for restoration and expansion of this globally significant habitat. In our restoration efforts it is critical that we prioritise and target the areas which will provide the biggest benefits for rainforest conservation.
"We hope our report, and the new restoration model and map, will help organisations in the region to focus their efforts around the most appropriate locations.”
The Woodland Trust, on behalf of the South West Rainforest Alliance (SWRA), commissioned the report to help guide the group’s strategy and partnership to counteract these threats and raise the awareness of the extremely rare and important temperate rainforests of Cornwall, Devon and parts of Somerset.
The report has also resulted in the creation of an interactive map showing the areas where temperate rainforests could thrive within the rainforest zone. It highlights particular locations where woodlands are in urgent need of restoration, or could be expanded in future.
Eleanor Lewis from the Woodland Trust stated: “The Woodland Trust has been championing temperate rainforest conservation across the South West for decades.
"This piece of work has provided us with a really valuable snapshot of the extent and health of our rainforests in the region, as well as the urgent need for action. Significantly, it has provided us with an essential blueprint for how we prioritise efforts and collaborate to protect, restore and create this rare and vital habitat.”
Ennia Bosshard on behalf of the SWRA said: “This report shows just how rare and fragile the South West’s temperate rainforests are - and that we have both a unique opportunity and a shared responsibility to protect and restore one of the world’s rarest habitats.
"It provides our first ever baseline for understanding where these rainforests survive here in the South West, the key threats they face, and the priority areas for restoration and expansion. We hope it also inspires people to get involved - whether by joining local community conservation projects, supporting research and monitoring, or restoring woodland on their land - so that together we can safeguard these extraordinary rainforests for the future.”