Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Accepted
Paragraph: 152
Expanding UK woodland cover managed to UKFS is crucial for timber supply and resilience.
Conclusion
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.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the need to increase woodland cover and manage it effectively, citing its statutory target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover to at least 16.5% by 2050, which aims to stimulate diverse and resilient woodland creation for various environmental and productive benefits.
Paragraph Reference:
152
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government agrees that the forestry and timber sectors will be crucial nature-based solutions as we work towards Net Zero and reverse the decline in biodiversity. The Government’s England Trees Action Plan (ETAP) sets out our vision for a thriving forest economy which contributes to the local economy of rural communities whilst also meeting our national objectives on climate and nature. We have legislated for a statutory tree and woodland target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover of England to at least 16.5% by 2050, equating to 250,000 hectares of trees. The Government acknowledges the Committee’s call to plant more conifer and we recognise that some stakeholders are calling for the same. Our new statutory woodland cover target will stimulate increased tree planting of both hard and softwoods and we are improving regulatory processes to make tree planting easier while retaining strong environmental and biosecurity safeguards. Commercial conifer planting is an important part of our overall planting, and we need all types of planting to meet our woodland cover target. We want to encourage mixed woodlands that serve a variety of environmental, productive and amenity purposes. We are making sure our trees are resilient to climate change through the Seed Sourcing Grant and Tree Production Innovation Fund and actions under the Tree Health Resilience Strategy.