Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Third Report - Tree planting
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 356
Published 21 March 2022
Recommendations
2
Accepted
Para 23
The Government’s planting ambition will fail to achieve its net zero, nature recovery and biodiversity...
Recommendation
The Government’s planting ambition will fail to achieve its net zero, nature recovery and biodiversity goals unless it is able to deliver the principle of planting the ‘right tree in the right place’. This requires adequate mapping data available being …
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Government Response Summary
The Forestry Commission plans to publish an updated sensitivity map for woodland creation by the end of May 2022. The EWCO targets supplementary payments to locations where public goods can best be provided by new woodland. Targeting maps are available to help applicants identify the best places to locate new woodland.
3
Accepted
However additional mapping information will not, in itself, help local authorities manage the potential trade-offs...
Recommendation
However additional mapping information will not, in itself, help local authorities manage the potential trade-offs between tree planting, creating and conserving other habitats and the needs of farmers and food production when developing Local Nature Recovery Strategies. We therefore recommend …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is already providing guidance through the Forestry Commission's 'Low Risk Land Map', sensitivity maps, and by preparing guidance for Local Authorities on Local Tree and Woodland Strategies.
5
Accepted
Para 40
Much of England’s existing woodland is under-managed and in poor condition.
Recommendation
Much of England’s existing woodland is under-managed and in poor condition. The Government’s objectives for net zero, nature recovery and biodiversity depend on existing woodland being much better managed. This will only happen if effective 40 Tree planting financial incentives …
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Government Response Summary
The Government has boosted the Nature for Climate Fund with a further £124 million and applicants for woodland creation are expected to voluntarily register with the Woodland Carbon Code to access private funding for carbon.
6
Accepted
Para 44
The Minister told us that the £500m allocated by the Government to woodland creation and...
Recommendation
The Minister told us that the £500m allocated by the Government to woodland creation and management from 2020 to 2025 wouldn’t be enough to realise the Government ambitions, and it is not clear whether the extra funding committed in the …
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Government Response Summary
The government confirmed it has boosted the Nature for Climate Fund with a further £124 million, ensuring a total spend of more than £760m by 2025 on tree planting, establishment and management, and peatland restoration and states the aims of the Tree Programme.
9
Accepted
Para 64
Tree nursery representatives and the Forestry Commission told us that nurseries in the UK will...
Recommendation
Tree nursery representatives and the Forestry Commission told us that nurseries in the UK will struggle to expand production to deliver the number of young trees required for the Government to achieve its planting ambitions by the end of this …
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Government Response Summary
£1 million has been made available through the Tree Production Innovation Fund and a new Tree Production Capital Grant opened for applications in May to modernise facilities.
10
Accepted
Para 66
We were given reassurances that the closure of one of two Forestry England nurseries will...
Recommendation
We were given reassurances that the closure of one of two Forestry England nurseries will not affect the overall ability of the nursery sector to produce enough trees. Given the challenges facing the sector, however, reducing the UK’s nursery capacity …
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Government Response Summary
The government has made £1 million available through the Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF) and has reopened TPIF for a second round of applications, making an additional £1.4m available. The Wykeham site has been made available to lease by competitive tender.
11
Accepted
Para 71
To meet the Government’s tree planting goals, we are going to need to import seeds...
Recommendation
To meet the Government’s tree planting goals, we are going to need to import seeds and young trees until domestic capacity increases. This carries the risks of pests and diseases being introduced. We welcome the work Defra and the Forestry …
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Government Response Summary
Defra and the Forestry Commission announced Biosecure Procurement Requirement Pilot in April 2022. The government also constantly reviews whether further safeguards are needed and has a scientific process to assess the changing threats to plant biosecurity.
12
Accepted
Para 79
The lack of a sufficiently large skilled workforce is a key barrier to England’s tree...
Recommendation
The lack of a sufficiently large skilled workforce is a key barrier to England’s tree planting ambitions. Addressing this requires a well-funded and planned workforce and skills strategy. Defra and the Forestry Commission are working to address the issue, but …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that it is already bringing significant numbers of people into woodland creation roles and is supporting apprenticeships and other training routes through the Nature for Climate Fund and the Forestry Skills Action Plan.
15
Accepted
Para 97
The current permanency rules discourage farmers and landowners from engaging with tree planting for fear...
Recommendation
The current permanency rules discourage farmers and landowners from engaging with tree planting for fear that they will never be able to change the land use back to growing crops or grazing if the new woodland does not prove viable. …
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Government Response Summary
The government is consulting on proposals to remove permanency requirements for certain forestry practices within the consultation on the Nature Recovery Green Paper published on 16th March 2022. They are also working to identify what further research into key planting blockers might be possible.
16
Accepted
We heard concerns that legal restrictions on many tenancies and their short-term length will prevent...
Recommendation
We heard concerns that legal restrictions on many tenancies and their short-term length will prevent many tenant farmers from engaging in tree-planting. Conversely, we also heard concerns that landowners might withdraw land from tenants to benefit from attractive tree-planting subsidies …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees and has included the issue in the remit of the Tenancy Working Group (TWG) and is working with the Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG).