Recommendation 28

New or restocked woodlands planted to the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) will have lower yields of timber per area. The planting of predominantly broadleaf species in recent decades has reduced the future availability of softwood timber. To ensure the continued availability of softwoods from productive forestry, it is evident that rates of conifer planting compliant with UKFS ought to increase. But increased planting of conifers ought not to be undertaken at the expense of native broadleaf species, given the clear importance of the latter for biodiversity levels. (Paragraph 151) Seeing the wood for the trees: the contribution of the forestry and timber sectors to biodiversity and net zero goals 79