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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
"Also known as Atlantic or Celtic rainforest, this special habitat is incredibly rare. In fact, it's thought to be more threatened than tropical rainforest. Its lush conditions are perfect for scarce plants, lichens and fungi, as well as remarkable birds and mammals." - Woodland Trust
Reliant Species
Reliant Species
The following species can be used to identify that you are in a temperate rainforest or they may be species who live in a variety of ecosystems that include temperate rainforests.
However depending on region, or extinction, certain species may not be present. For example the species that are common to Argentina and Chiles's rainforests tend to share species with the rainforests in Oceana and Asia, rather than those found in Europe. Even within the UK, there are a variety of species that will only be found in one forest, vs others that may span through all remaining rainforests.
Animals
Animals
Birds
Birds
Some birds stay around all year in small or large territories, while others migrate yearly.
In the UK, "Migrant birds such as pied flycatcher, wood warbler, redstart and tree pipit thrive in the insect-rich conditions temperate rainforests offer, flying here to breed each summer. In the UK, the rare chequered skipper butterfly is also only found in the mild, damp and grassy habitats at the woodland edges of rainforest in western Scotland." - Woodland Trust
Hummingbirds are only native to the Americas, with some species living as far south are Argentina's and Chile's temperate rainforests!
Bugs
Bugs
Mammals
Mammals
Plants
Plants
Ferns
Ferns
Trees
Trees
Other
Other
Lichen
Lichen
Liverworts
Liverworts
Moss
Moss
Historical & Current Ranges
Historical & Current Ranges
By understanding the historical ranges of these ecosystems, we can gain an idea of where it would be appropriate to replant and regenerate rainforests.
Some people may be surprised by locations such as the UK, but thanks to marine winds, we still have some fragments pockets of rainforest, and we could help restore them to help meet our climate goals.
You can also scroll down to the map Section for visual guides on this topic.
Asia
Asia
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Bhutan
Brunei
Brunei
China
China
East Timor
East Timor
Georgia
Georgia
India
India
Indonesia
Indonesia
Iran
Iran
Japan
Japan
Laos
Laos
Malaysia
Malaysia
Borneo
Myanmar (Burma)
Myanmar (Burma)
Nepal
Nepal
Philippines
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Taiwan
Thailand
Thailand
Turkey
Turkey
Vietnam
Vietnam
Europe
Europe
Albania
Albania
Azores
Azores
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Perućica "On the southeastern border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, lies a rainforest. And not a small one either. Perucica is Europe's largest rainforest, covering 3 500 acres of land in enchanting, ancient growth. Running down deep valleys and along the slopes of towering limestone peaks, this part of Europe still feels wild and little-explored."
Croatia
Croatia
France
France
Iceland
Iceland
Ireland
Ireland
Kosovo
Kosovo
Madeira
Madeira
"Currently, it occupies an area of around 15.000 hectares in Madeira, which corresponds to 20% of the island, with greater expression in the high areas of the north. This subtropical rainforest is composed mainly of species endemic to Macaronesia." - Visit Madeira
Montenegro
Montenegro
Temperate rainforest, specifically this might include some of Perućica.
Norway
Norway
"Central Norway is the only place where the Taiga meets the Atlantic sea. This is the European boreal rain forest, unique in its distribution and species diversity, which means that Norway has an international responsibility for protection of these forests. It’s not only the swarms of mosquitoes that distinguish the boreal rain forest. Climatic factors and a specialized epiphytic lichen flora give characteristics to these forests."
"It is estimated that 70-90% of the original boreal rain forest in Norway has been destroyed in the last 70 years! Clearcutting and (forest) road construction are the main threats to the boreal rain forest. Less than 25 small and scattered localities are protected. Around 260 localities (2 - 250 hectars in size) are known. The common in the boreal rain forest is logging operations. It should be forest protection. Scientists have given the boreal rain forest very high priority based on the gap analysis on forest protection in Norway." - Panda: Natural Forest Heritage in Norway
"Today, more than 20 per cent of the broadleaved forests are logged and replaced with non-native tree species. The forest sector continues this destructive management, manipulating living forests into boring monoculture of non-native species. This is the biggest threat to this unique and biodiversity rich forest ecosystem, for which Norway has an international responsibility!" - Panda: Natural Forest Heritage in Norway
Portugal
Portugal
Russia
Russia
Serbia
Serbia
Spain
Spain
UK
UK
"Despite their importance and significance, Britain’s temperate rainforests now only remain in fragmented pockets, including in Dartmoor National Park. Historically, temperate rainforests covered a much larger area of Britain and, thanks to our maritime climate, the habitat has the potential to cover 5% of England and 20% of Britain overall. To compare, just 10% of England and 13% of Britain is currently covered by woodland, and the majority of this is conifer plantations." - Lost Rainforests of Britain
"Rainforests in the UK are part of the Coastal Temperate Rainforest biome. This habitat is globally rare and some say is more threatened than tropical rainforest." - Woodland Trust
"Ideal conditions for temperate rainforest are found along the UK's western seaboard, including:
West coast of Scotland
North and west Wales
Devon
Cornwall
Cumbria
parts of Northern Ireland.
Even within the UK, the location of this kind of woodland can influence the condition and species present at each rainforest site. The biodiversity of rainforests in south west England for example differ markedly to those in north west Scotland." - Woodland Trust
England
Ausewell Wood in Devon
Bovey Valley Woods in Darmoor
Fingle Woods in Darmoor
A 17:49 minute video about the history of Scotland's mostly-lost rainforests, and what is now being done to try and restore them.
Wales
The Celtic Rainforests: Forest locations "The project covers four areas in west Wales, including Snowdonia, Cwm Einion, Cwm Doethie-Mynydd Mallaen and the Elan Valley.
Over the centuries the Celtic rainforest has deteriorated due to issues ranging from the planting of conifers, the invasion of species such as Rhododendron ponticum to grazing by sheep and deer.
The decline has put stress on precious flora, especially lichens such as Pyrenula hibernica (blackberries and custard) and tree lungwort, birds including the pied flycatcher, redstart and wood warbler, and mammals including the lesser horseshoe bat, otter and dormouse.
This partnership project will attempt to rid four areas of Celtic Rainforest of invasive species and find ways of improving their management, for example by changing how the woods are grazed."
South America
South America
There are only 2 temperate rain forests in South America, and both span across the borders of Argentina and Chile.
Chile
Chile
Protected Areas:
Área Costera Protegida Punta Curiñanco (owned by CODEFF)
Llancahue (administered by the Austral University of Chile)
Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve (owned by Víctor Peterman)
Meullín-Puye Nature Sanctuary (administered by the Kreen Foundation)
Oncol Park (owned by Celulosa Arauco y Constitución)
Tantauco Park (owned by Sebastián Piñera)
Valdivian Coastal Reserve (owned by The Nature Conservancy)
Oceana
Oceana
Australia
Australia
ACT
NSW
Tasmania
Victoria
Fiji
Fiji
Nauru
Nauru
New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Zealand
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu
UK
UK
"The rainforest was once a well-used resource, providing timber, charcoal and tannin for tanning leather. But our rainforest is threatened. It has suffered long term declines through clearances, chronic overgrazing, and conversion to other uses. This has left a small and fragmented resource.
The major threats continuing to impact our rainforests are:
disease like ash dieback
high levels of grazing, primarily from deer (deer populations have soared since we hunted our apex predators to extinction)
uncertainty over how rural areas and woods in particular will be supported in the future.
Rhododendron (specifically Rhododendron ponticum and associated hybrids) has been called ‘the most damaging and most widespread non-native terrestrial plant in Britain’. Introduced to the UK around 1760, it’s an aggressive coloniser that reduces the biodiversity value of a site. It obstructs the regeneration of woodlands and once established, it’s difficult and costly to eradicate.
The small and fragmented nature of our rainforest also reduces its resilience against other threats, such as pests, diseases and climate change." - Woodland Trust
Overgrazing from livestock and deer.
Reduce Livestock Impact
Reduce Livestock Impact
Resources & Guides
Resources & Guides
Resources for Identifying Temperate Rainforests "This is a work-in-progress list of tools and resources for anyone looking for further information on how to identify temperate rainforests. I’ll continue adding to it over time.
If you’re visiting temperate rainforests, please remember they’re very rare habitats and must be treated with respect and awe! Follow the Countryside Code at all times, leave no trace, take only photos."
Useful Tree Species
Useful Tree Species
Projects & Programs
Projects & Programs
Europe
Europe
Wales
Wales
Celtic Rainforests Wales is a project aiming to restore temperate rainforest over four locations in Mid- and North Wales.
Organizations
Organizations
Maps
Maps
International
International
Temperate Rainforest scroll down to see map, and click to enlarge. Shows forests from Alaska to California (though Canada), some western US states, southern Chile and Argentina, Northern Spain and Portugal, part of France, all of the Irelands, southern Iceland, Eastern Norway, and parts of southwestern Europe, parts of East Asia (northern parts of the Middle East), parts of western Asia, Parts of Australia, and most of New Zealand.
Africa
Africa
Europe
Europe
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Montenegro
Montenegro
UK
UK
Lost Rainforests of Britain (interactive) Scroll around and click tree symbols to see coordinates, names, and sometimes photos of these different remnants of UK's rainforests.
Public Create Map of Britain's Lost Rainforests Scroll in to see index of hygrothermy of different areas. Use the layers to explore historical range, modern remnants, as well as the names and locations of liverworts, mosses, and lichens.
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