1 of 3
FACE facilities globally
10 years of carbon dioxide enrichment at BIFoR FACE
A decade of world‑leading forest climate research.
For ten years, BIFoR FACE has been running one of the world’s largest, most advanced experiments on how forests will respond to future climate change.
As the only mature‑forest carbon dioxide (CO₂) enrichment experiment in the northern hemisphere, BIFoR FACE has given scientists a decade‑long window into the climate of 2050 — and how our forests will adapt, struggle, and change.
Changing how the world thinks about climate change
What is BIFoR FACE?
A one‑of‑a‑kind outdoor laboratory where a mature oak woodland is exposed to elevated CO₂ levels predicted for mid‑century.
For a decade, scientists have monitored every layer of the ecosystem, from canopy leaves to soil microbes, to understand how forests will function in a changing world.
- only 1
experiment globally focused on a mature temperate forest
- 10th
year of experimental treatment
Why it matters
Forests absorb and store enormous amounts of carbon - but rising CO₂ brings both benefits and risks.
At BIFoR FACE, we’ve learned that elevated CO₂ can:
-
increase growth in mature trees
-
reduce nutrient quality in flowers, pollen, and acorns
-
weaken young trees’ disease resistance
-
shift food webs and ecosystem dynamics
-
alter long‑term forest resilience
This experiment reveals the future of forests and the challenges climate change will bring.
A decade of carbon dioxide enrichment has revealed
1. a sustained boost in growth
1. a sustained boost in growth
Mature oaks grew around 10% more wood under elevated CO₂. Root systems became more active, feeding microbes and cycling nutrients faster.
2. hidden forest vulnerabilities
2. hidden forest vulnerabilities
Younger trees became more susceptible to disease, especially powdery mildew — raising concerns for future regeneration.
3. forest reproduction is changing
3. forest reproduction is changing
Acorns and pollen became less nutritious, with lower minerals and protein. This affects insects, birds, and mammals that depend on them.
4. insect populations are stable for now
4. insect populations are stable for now
Insect numbers remained steady, but future changes to food quality may alter behaviour and survival.
5. mature forests are critical climate allies
5. mature forests are critical climate allies
Large trees store more carbon and may absorb more methane than previously understood. Protecting them is vital.
Research at the BIFoR - with Professor Alice Roberts
The first 10 years in numbers
- 40+
papers directly from FACE
- 454+
publications linked to BIFoR research
- 100+
researchers contributing to FACE science
- 5
collaborations across five continents
- 4098
key stage 2 - 5 pupils reached
- 1017
teachers reached
What's next?
The next decade of BIFoR FACE will deepen understanding of long‑term forest resilience and continue shaping climate policy, ecosystem modelling, and global carbon‑sink predictions.
Expect new partnerships, new findings and new ways for schools, communities, and the public to engage with future‑climate science.
Be part of the next chapter
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