Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 64
Require Forestry England to publish a clear plan to meet woodland target
Recommendation
Decisive action and a clear delivery plan are required for Forestry England to meet its target of planting 2,000 hectares of new woodland by 2026. We recommend that a plan be prepared by the end of October 2023 and published for transparency, to demonstrate to the public and the private sector that Forestry England is playing its part in meeting the national tree planting targets and in contributing to future timber supply.
Government Response Summary
The government stated Forestry England is confident in meeting its woodland creation target and provided updated planting figures, but did not commit to preparing or publishing a specific delivery plan by October 2023 as recommended.
Paragraph Reference:
64
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Forestry England are confident that their woodland creation target will be met or exceeded. Forestry England have planted all suitable land available on their estate and are finding ways to lease or buy more land suitable for woodland creation. The Forestry England Woodland Partnership, which enables Forestry England to lease land for woodland creation, launched in March 2021. The process of engaging landowners, negotiating lease teams, and planning and designing new woodlands typically takes 12–18 months, so there has only been one planting season in which Forestry England could create new woodlands on leasehold land. They have planted 189 hectares of new woodland on leasehold land to date and expect to plant another 267 hectares by 2026/27. In addition, we have recently extended the Woodland Partnership offer to enable Forestry England to purchase freehold land for woodland creation. They have already exceeded their acquisition targets for 2023/24 and recently completed on the sale of a 220-hectare site for woodland creation. Forestry England currently have a further 138 hectares of sites under offer.