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About UBoC

What is UBoC?

UBoC is a registered environmental charity that protects, plants, and restores trees and forests in the UK and across the world. Protection and restoration of natural forests is essential to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, prevent the biodiversity crisis, and support the many benefits provided by forests.

A key challenge is how to achieve the restoration and creation of natural forests at the scale and the speed required to avert dangerous climate change and the collapse of biodiversity. UBoC develops methods to better understand the dynamic relationships between trees, natural and urban environments, and people.

UBoC also provides a robust scientific underpinning for policy makers to ensure that our research has real world impact that benefits both the planet and people.   

UBoC funding supports a team based at the University of Leeds, as well as projects throughout the region and globally.

Our objectives

  • Quantify and communicate the role of trees and forests in achieving global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, air quality improvement, flood risk reduction, biodiversity enhancement, and contribution to human well-being.
  • Provide robust information, tools, research support, and advice to translate national and global tree planting and restoration targets and policies to a local and regional level.
  • Contribute to increased rural woodland area and urban tree canopy cover across Yorkshire through supporting the establishment of the Northern Forest.
  • Collaborate locally and nationally to support the practical creation and restoration of native woodland and other habitats in the UK.
  • Embed research and student engagement in practical forest restoration.
  • Work with communities, organisations, and individuals to identify and resolve challenges in tree planting and landscape restoration.
  • Leverage practical and financial support from other national and global institutions working towards the same aims.
  • Communicate the importance of protecting and maintaining the world’s existing trees and forests to enable them to achieve their full potential in the delivery of environmental and social benefits.

Our history

UBoC was created in 2008, as a spin-out from the global forestry initiatives of Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate and Yorkshire Tea, and the Prince of Wales’ Rainforest Project, with the intent to provide scientific support to inform reforestation decision-making. The University of Leeds joined as lead scientific partners in 2009 and registration as a charity followed in 2010.

The ‘Bank’ represents locations we can safely store carbon: trees, plants, peat, and soils. UBoC works to support environmentally and socially responsible partnerships between businesses, local authorities, NGOs, and local communities, providing research on all things carbon, climate change, and ecosystem services.

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