Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Paragraph: 36
Overlapping woodland creation strategies lack clarity and long-term vision for forestry objectives.
Conclusion
There are currently multiple overlapping strategies which purport to articulate the UK Government’s ambitions, actions, and objectives for woodland creation. Stakeholders are concerned that it is unclear how the Government’s policy objectives for forestry and the timber sector align with its land use and decarbonisation policies. Furthermore, it is not clear what will replace the England Trees Action Plan when it lapses in 2024 to give long term direction for Government’s goals for woodlands.
Government Response Summary
The government stated that its England Trees Action Plan provides a long-term vision to 2050, reinforced by the Environmental Improvement Plan, addressing concerns about clarity and long-term direction, and is working with industry on the National Wood Strategy.
Paragraph Reference:
36
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government’s England Trees Action Plan, published in May 2021, sets out a generational vision for trees & forestry to 2050. The England Tree Action Plan’s five chapters includes over 90 policy announcements and measures Defra will take over this Parliament to achieve the long-term vision. The Environmental Improvement Plan, which was published in January 2023 reinforces these commitments, which are given legal status through the Government’s statutory tree and woodland cover target. We are working with industry to support them in their development of the sector-led National Wood Strategy.