The drone seeding study aims to revolutionize the restoration of the rainforest

One of the largest drone tree seeding tests with local species was launched in the southwest. The researchers hope that the project will revolutionize the expansion of moderate rainforests in the region. The project is considered a promising step to restore one of the most endangered ecosystems in Great Britain and offers new solutions to tackle climate and biological diversity.

In the ambitious initiative under the direction of the Woodland Trust, high-tech drones spread 75,000 seeds over the gentle hills of Bodmin. Every drone with a weight of 110 kg and able to wear 58 kg seeds can efficiently cover areas that are difficult or dangerous for the access of human planters.

The Woodland Trust is working with the South West Rainforest Alliance on the project, which is to triple the coverage of the moderate rainforest in Devon and Cornwall by 2050. These rainforests currently only occupy 8% of the land area, but the project is aimed at expansion to 24%.

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“Rainforest once covered 75% of Devon and Cornwall, but we lost 90% of it,” said Sam Manning, the project officer for South West Rainforests in Woodland Trust. “These are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. They are hotspots for biological diversity in which over 2,000 types of braiding.

The project focuses on the development of innovative methods to accelerate rainforest restoration. Drone, said Manning, offer a faster and cheaper solution for the spread of seeds, especially in areas that are too steep, insecure or remote for conventional planting methods.

“Drones can overcome these restrictions and make forest creation more accessible, safer and faster,” added Manning. In just eight hours, the drones would successfully sow 11 hectares of land with local rainforest tree species such as pedunculate oak, alder, wild cherry, double birch and hazelnut.

The attempt also includes “control areas” to compare the effectiveness of drone seeds with natural regeneration. The researchers will visit the test locations again over the next three years to monitor the germ rate and evaluate tree development. Manning found that the team is hoping for a success rate of at least 25%for a success rate from Seed to Baum.

“If he is successful, this attempt could inspire practitioners and donors to refine and expand the methods of drone seeding for forest creation,” said Manning. “While only a few companies currently have legal permission to pursue such drones, the sector is expanding quickly. We hope that this growing demand will strengthen the supply chain for tree seeds, which remains a challenge for large-scale drone seeding projects.”

The seeding test is part of the “Rainforest Recovery” initiative of Woodland Trust, which is supported by Defra Species Survival Fund. The project is the South West Branch of the broader Rainforest Restoration Project, which is delivered by the Woodland Trust in partnership with plantlife and financed through the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Author Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, which was recently published Our oak bonesPrepared part of the country for the Seeding project. Hanbury-Tenison described the initiative as an important step in reversing the destruction of the rainforest.

“Up to a fifth of the British Isles was once a rainforest, but less than 1% of this habitat remains due to the stake for centuries,” he said. “If we want to restore these vital ecosystems, we have to take on innovative solutions such as Drone Seeding. My book shows the incredible role that these habitats play in the reduction in climate, biological diversity and human well -being. Now it is time to remember that we are a rainforest that lives on a rainforest island.”