Recommendations & Conclusions
10 items
8
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Seeing the wood for the …
Accepted in Part
We recommend that in its response to this report the Government provide an assessment of the progress of tree planting in (a) England and (b) the UK against the targets set by Ministers; set out its latest and most realistic estimate of the numbers of trees likely to have been …
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We recommend that in its response to this report the Government provide an assessment of the progress of tree planting in (a) England and (b) the UK against the targets set by Ministers; set out its latest and most realistic estimate of the numbers of trees likely to have been planted by March 2025, and indicate whether it plans to adopt policies to accelerate the current rate of planting.
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Government response AI summary
The government provided an assessment of England's tree planting progress and future projections but did not provide a specific numerical estimate for planting by March 2025 or detail new policies to accelerate the current rate.
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9
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Seeing the wood for the …
Accepted in Part
To ensure that the nation’s woodlands help to deliver the Government’s ambitions for nature, carbon storage and timber production, several stakeholders have called on the Government to apportion tree-planting targets in line with desired outcomes, to ensure that the right balance of outcomes is achieved from woodland creation. We agree. …
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To ensure that the nation’s woodlands help to deliver the Government’s ambitions for nature, carbon storage and timber production, several stakeholders have called on the Government to apportion tree-planting targets in line with desired outcomes, to ensure that the right balance of outcomes is achieved from woodland creation. We agree. This initiative could also give the forestry sector and investors clearer direction as to the sort of woodlands which ought to be created under the policy.
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Government response AI summary
The government stated that statutory sub-targets for tree planting were considered but rejected for delivery confidence; however, it will use policy and incentives to encourage a range of woodland types to meet targets.
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25
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Seeing the wood for the …
Accepted in Part
In tandem with this target, and in line with our earlier recommendations, we recommend that the Government determine the proportion of new woodland to be established under current targets which is to contribute to timber production.
Government response AI summary
The government commits to increasing both productive conifer and broadleaf planting and is working with stakeholders to understand how to promote this, including supporting woodland management through innovation funds and researching tree breeding programmes, but does not explicitly commit to determining a specific proportion of …
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38
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Seeing the wood for the …
Accepted in Part
For UK-grown timber to be used in construction, the Government needs to support the sawmilling sector to transition UK production towards producing a higher percentage of construction grade timber products and engineered timber. Action to support this transition should be specifically set out in the Timber in Construction roadmap.
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For UK-grown timber to be used in construction, the Government needs to support the sawmilling sector to transition UK production towards producing a higher percentage of construction grade timber products and engineered timber. Action to support this transition should be specifically set out in the Timber in Construction roadmap.
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to addressing the need to support the sawmilling sector within the Timber in Construction Roadmap. The roadmap will explore barriers to using English wood and aim to set out how these can be addressed, including through greater guidance and improved understanding of …
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43
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Seeing the wood for the …
Accepted in Part
The Biomass Strategy, which was promised by the end of 2022, must now be issued as soon as possible. We recommend that the Strategy take a risk-based approach to ensuring the sustainability of biomass use, managing risks on a domestic and a global scale. In preparing the Strategy we recommend …
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The Biomass Strategy, which was promised by the end of 2022, must now be issued as soon as possible. We recommend that the Strategy take a risk-based approach to ensuring the sustainability of biomass use, managing risks on a domestic and a global scale. In preparing the Strategy we recommend that the Government consider the risks associated with life-cycle carbon emissions, land-use trade-offs, impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem service provision, and competition with other uses of biomass, and consider the merits of establishing quotas for, or a moratorium on, the use of the highest risk feedstocks.
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Government response AI summary
The government states the Biomass Strategy was published on August 10th and includes actions to strengthen sustainability criteria, covering GHG emissions, biodiversity, and feedstock origin, with a consultation planned for 2024. However, it does not explicitly commit to considering quotas or a moratorium.
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45
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Seeing the wood for the …
Accepted in Part
The Government needs to manage risks associated with the sustainability of feedstock supply through its governance framework for biomass, which must be strengthened. Improvements should include: • All biomass used for large-scale power generation in the UK should be required to adhere to the sustainability criteria set by the UK …
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The Government needs to manage risks associated with the sustainability of feedstock supply through its governance framework for biomass, which must be strengthened. Improvements should include: • All biomass used for large-scale power generation in the UK should be required to adhere to the sustainability criteria set by the UK governance framework. The Government should include in its Biomass Strategy a thorough review of the subsidy regime for biomass. • The woody biomass land criteria should stipulate that generators and participants must demonstrate that all of their woody biomass supplied is ‘legal and sustainable.’ • As soon as robust life-cycle carbon assessment methodologies are available, biomass sustainability requirements should include the complete accounting of the life-cycle carbon emissions of using a source of woody biomass, from the carbon stored in the forest, through to the stack emissions.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to strengthen its biomass governance framework, committing to requiring 100% proven sustainable woody biomass feedstock and developing a common GHG emissions calculation methodology, with a consultation planned for 2024. However, it does not explicitly commit to a thorough review of the subsidy …
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24
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK's contribution t…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that provision be made in the due diligence system—by amendment to primary legislation, if necessary—to ensure that products are not illegally produced in relation to land use and land ownership laws, including customary tenure rights.
Government response AI summary
The government states its due diligence legislation already applies to indigenous peoples' rights where protected by national laws. It commits to supporting producer countries in enforcing and enhancing their legal frameworks for land governance and protection of communities’ land rights through various FCDO programmes.
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32
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK's contribution t…
Accepted in Part
Decisive action must follow these commitments if the Kunming-Montreal goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 and the commitments of the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration and subsequent COP agreements are to be met. The UK must lead by example, fulfilling its pledged funding commitments, continuing its diplomatic efforts to …
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Decisive action must follow these commitments if the Kunming-Montreal goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 and the commitments of the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration and subsequent COP agreements are to be met. The UK must lead by example, fulfilling its pledged funding commitments, continuing its diplomatic efforts to keep issues of deforestation and nature prominent in global discourses and restoring and conserving its forests at home.
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Government response AI summary
The government affirms its commitment to invest at least £1.5 billion in UK International Climate Finance, demonstrating it is on track to deliver this funding pledge. It provides detailed figures on current and future forest programming, including new funding announcements at COP28 for programmes like …
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41
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK's contribution t…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the report of the Government review should be shared widely, including with the relevant EU authorities and Member States preparing for the successor programme to FLEGT-VPA. Lessons learned should be incorporated thoroughly into future UK programmes so as to address most effectively all deforestation activities driven by …
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We recommend that the report of the Government review should be shared widely, including with the relevant EU authorities and Member States preparing for the successor programme to FLEGT-VPA. Lessons learned should be incorporated thoroughly into future UK programmes so as to address most effectively all deforestation activities driven by production of forest risk commodities. Where appropriate the review’s findings should take a country-based approach, analysing the country-specific factors which have contributed to particular outcomes.
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Government response AI summary
The government confirms the FLEGT Post Implementation Review (PIR) will be published shortly and made widely accessible, and that it reflects country-specific factors. It commits to sharing the review internally and conducting further analysis of lessons learned, but does not explicitly commit to sharing with …
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48
Recommendation
Fourth Report - The UK's contribution t…
Accepted in Part
We reiterate the recommendation of our 2021 report on the UK’s footprint on global diversity: sustainability impact assessments must be conducted for all future trade agreements. Ministers must develop strategies for the effective monitoring and delivery environmental net gains, including gains through halting and reversing deforestation, in its negotiations for …
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We reiterate the recommendation of our 2021 report on the UK’s footprint on global diversity: sustainability impact assessments must be conducted for all future trade agreements. Ministers must develop strategies for the effective monitoring and delivery environmental net gains, including gains through halting and reversing deforestation, in its negotiations for and implementation of the UK’s trade deals. (Paragraph 171) The UK’s contribution to tackling global deforestation 53
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Government response AI summary
The government states that published impact assessments for new Free Trade Agreements already include environmental impacts like deforestation. However, regarding developing strategies for effective monitoring and delivery of environmental net gains, they have only undertaken research exploring its feasibility over the last 18 months.
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