Queen's Speech: Woodland Trust calls for swift action on natural environment
The Woodland Trust is calling for swift action on measures to protect and enhance the countrys natural environment despite the lack of legislation brought forward on the subject in the Queens Speech at the State Opening of Parliament this morning.
Promises to protect and enhance the country’s natural environment were included in the Conservative Party manifesto, which the Prime Minister has pledged to deliver ‘all’ of as part of his mission to ‘restore trust and faith in politics’.
The Woodland Trust believes one of the most positive steps the Government could make would be to begin work on the Natural Capital Committee’s proposal for a 25-year recovery plan for nature.
Beccy Speight, Woodland Trust CEO, said:
“The need for a 25-year recovery plan has been agreed, now it’s time to get to work. And with the Natural Capital Committee highlighting in its pre election report the ‘very substantial benefits’ for all of boosting England’s woodland cover, we would expect to see woods and trees central to this plan.
“We will be watching carefully to ensure other promises are not forgotten, including securing the future of the public forest estate and the promise to build in an environmentally sensitive way. With weak protection for ancient woodland in current planning rules, and fracking now also on the agenda we will continue to push for greater protection for this precious habitat as threats continue to blight it on a daily basis.”
