Time to turn the tide and increase UK tree planting

When reading the Commons’ Library briefing ahead of the Westminster Hall debate on tree planting, one line jumped out: “2016 has had the fewest new trees planted on record.”

I knew the target of planting 11 million trees during the lifetime of this parliament was proving a challenge, but didn’t realise we were in such a parlous position.

With the EFRA committee hearing taking evidence on forestry yesterday and the debate today, we have a chance to highlight the problem – and do something about it.

So why does a lack of tree planting matter? Firstly, the UK is the third largest net importer of wood products globally, behind only China and Japan.

The reason for our reliance on imports is simple. Woodland cover in England is only 10 per cent; Scotland leads the home nations with 18 per cent cover, but this is still only half the European average.

At the same time, global demand for timber is rising, One study says it will triple by 2050.

Lower supply and greater demand means the UK will be competing against other growing economies for a natural resource that we can, and should, grow more of at home.

Forestry Commission surveys show the British public want more trees; 80 per cent in the latest study say “a lot more” should be planted. Three-quarters think ‘trees are good because they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in wood’. The EFRA committee recognises the role of trees in mitigating flooding and the Government recently announced a £19m fund to plant trees for their contribution to locking up carbon.

This is good news and could help stimulate more planting to support the forestry and timber industry, which employs almost 80,000 people and is worth £2 billion a year. Industry body Confor believes the figures are significant underestimates and along with The Woodland Trust, has warned repeatedly about the planting downturn and its potential impact.

The latest figures have even raised fears that we are seeing deforestation in England, which is a terrible situation.

So what can we do? Look to Scotland, for one, which has the most ambitious targets in the UK and is acting to speed up processes for approving larger planting schemes. The application process for woodland creation is complex and costly. It can, and it does, put people off.

In the wake of Brexit, there is a chance to revisit rural policy and funding and put forestry on a level playing-field with other land uses. If we do this, we can stimulate our economy, protect our environment, and support our communities. Tree planting provides solutions to a whole range of 21st century problems by:

• Delivering jobs and investment to rural areas;

• Reducing the impact of climate change and flooding;

• Creating habitats for wildlife and wonderful places for people to enjoy;

• Providing the timber to build the new homes this country needs.

So why are we waiting? Let’s act now and turn the planting tide.

Chris Davies is Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Forestry

Related

Greens Urge Government To Rethink Tax On Farming

By Sophie Church

17 Nov

PoliticsHome Newsletters

Get the inside track on what MPs and Peers are talking about. Sign up to The House's morning email for the latest insight and reaction from Parliamentarians, policy-makers and organisations.