Recommendation 29

Given the different advantages of different woodland types and species mixes for biodiversity, carbon storage and timber production, to ensure that the benefits of the nation’s woodlands are fully realised, the total area of woodland managed to the UKFS must be increased. Significantly expanding the UK’s woodland cover is necessary not only to compensate for predicted shortfalls in the supply of domestically-produced softwood timber, but also to enhance the resilience of the nation’s woodlands to future pest, disease and climate challenges through increasing the diversity of trees planted.