Dr Anna Gardner appointed to the Expert Committee on Forest Science
Bringing expertise in how forests respond to environmental change, Dr Anna Gardner begins a new role guiding the science that underpins UK forestry practice.
Dr Anna Gardner, Research Fellow in tree ecophysiology at the University of Birmingham, has been appointed to the Forestry Commission’s Expert Committee on Forest Science (ECFS), joining from 1 April 2026. The ECFS provides independent advice on the quality, robustness and future direction of scientific evidence underpinning forestry policy and practice across the UK.
Anna was appointed following a competitive process. Applicants were required to outline their experience, motivations and contribution to the committee before shortlisted candidates were invited to interview with a panel from Forest Research.
Anna joined the University 10 years ago as a laboratory and field technician and is now a respected researcher and a leader in her field. In her new role, she will contribute expertise on how forests respond to environmental change. Her research background means she is closely engaged with emerging methods and technologies in forest science, and she aims to bring an evidence‑led, early‑career perspective to the committee’s work. This includes reviewing the quality and rigour of forestry research, identifying future scientific priorities and supporting knowledge exchange across the sector. These responsibilities align with the ECFS’s wider remit to strengthen applied research in areas such as forest genetics, silviculture, tree breeding and forest management.
I’m delighted to be joining the Expert Committee on Forest Science with Forest Research. It’s an exciting opportunity to contribute meaningfully to discussions about how scientific evidence can inform policy, practice and future research, and help shape the future of forestry in the UK.
The University welcomes Anna’s appointment as a strong reflection of Birmingham’s contribution to national forest science and environmental research. The announcement from Forest Research can be found on their website: New members welcomed to Expert Committee on Forest Science
About BIFoR FACE
This announcement comes as the Birmingham Institute for Forest Research (BIFoR) marks 10 years of CO₂ enrichment at BIFoR FACE, one of only three free‑air CO₂ enrichment experiments in mature forests worldwide and the only one in the northern hemisphere. A decade of research at the Staffordshire woodland has revealed that while elevated CO₂ can increase tree growth, it also highlights hidden risks for forest resilience and ecosystem function, insights informing climate policy, biodiversity conservation and future forest management.