In Britain’s temperate rainforests, an “extinction crisis” is underway, leading to the disappearance of some of the rarest mosses, lichens, and liverworts in the world. These ecosystems, also known as Celtic rainforests, are predominantly located along the western coasts of the UK. A recent survey conducted in 2024 on Welsh rainforests revealed that only 22% of them were in good condition due to pollution, fragmentation, and invasive species.
During Storm Darragh in December, a 500-year-old oak tree in Eryri National Park, famously known as Snowdonia, fell, causing significant ecological loss. This tree was home to a population of a rare lichen, with ecologist Sabine Nouvet stating that its downfall symbolizes the current species crisis and extinction crisis being faced. According to Ms. Nouvet, the fallen tree hosted over 60 types of lichen, with the rarest being the minuscule rinodina isidioides, found exclusively in the rain-soaked valleys of western Ireland and Britain.
Wales boasts internationally important examples of temperate rainforests, which cover less than 1% of the Earth’s surface. These unique habitats, characterized by twisted branches, dappled light, and moss-covered understorey, were once prevalent throughout the country but are now limited to isolated areas like Coed Felenrhyd near Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. The devastation caused by December’s storm resulted in the loss of several ancient trees, including the “grandmothers” of the forest, at Coed Felenrhyd, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these delicate ecosystems.
Efforts are being made to preserve the skeletal finger species in the valley by relocating clippings to nearby old trees. However, the process of seeding the bark could take up to a decade. With approximately 33,024 hectares of rainforest remaining in Wales, conservationists are working to combat various threats, such as storms, inappropriate grazing practices, and invasive species like rhododendrons. Reviving ancient woodlands like Coed Felenrhyd is crucial to maintaining Wales’ unique Celtic rainforest heritage, requiring collective action and investment to ensure its sustainability
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