Recommendation 53

We welcome the Government’s Trees Action Plan, and the intention to focus on planting broadleaf native species. The Government must not try to meet its tree planting target solely through commercial timber plantations using non- native species. A balance of tree planting is required to allow increased domestic commercial timber production to reduce reliance on imports. The appropriate mix of tree species will depend on site conditions. Creating woods with more native broadleaf tree species will provide greater biodiversity benefits, carbon stocks, more improved water quality and reduce soil erosion. These benefits can be scaled up through greater public and private investment in NbS.