Sir — In view of your report Global goings on in local woods (September 5), one wonders why on earth the University of Oxford has abolished its Forestry Institute — an internationally renowned centre for research and teaching, whose graduates are now among leading actors in forest conservation around the world.
Forests play an essential part in sequestration of carbon dioxide, in moderating temperatures, in regulating the run-off of rainwater and in harbouring wildlife, in addition to their obvious value as sources of renewable materials for construction, furnishing and a wide range of manufactures. They are also the one major potential source of biofuels that would not take land away from food production.
Their importance is increasingly recognized by the public, politicians and media, and yet their place in our universities has become more marginal than ever. Surely one of our numerous multi-millionaires could put up the relatively modest sums needed to revive and endow the Oxford Forestry Institute.
P J Stewart, Boars Hill
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