Written Statement: First Meeting of the UK Tree Planting Taskforce

On 28th November I attended the first meeting of the newly established UK Tree Planting Taskforce, chaired by UK Forestry Minister, Mary Creagh, with Ministers from all four UK nations as well as representatives from the Woodland Trust, the Confederation of Forestry Industries.

The Taskforce, which will be chaired in rotation by Ministers from each UK nation, will strengthen collaborative working across the UK to improve tree planting and ensure the long-term survival of woodland, ensuring their benefits for future generations.  Although trees and forestry are devolved matters, we all face some shared challenges. This forum provides an opportunity to work together, share good practice, and solve common issues in support of our tree planting targets and tackling the climate emergency.

In Wales, we are purposefully supporting a wide range of tree planting and woodland creation to achieve multiple benefits, from trees adding value to farm businesses, to woodland which will provide valuable new habitat and mitigate the impacts of flooding, and all of it locking up carbon from the atmosphere.

With around 90% of our land in Wales used for agriculture, farmers have a vital role in helping us achieve our tree planting targets and we must work in partnership with the farming community to achieve this. This is why the Sustainable Farming Scheme outline, which I published on 25th November includes support in every layer of the scheme to enable farmers to create trees and hedges on their land as an integral part of their farm business.  By removing the original proposal for 10% tree cover on every farm and instead having scheme-level targets for tree planting and hedges we will enable farmers to choose the actions they take in a way which will support their individual objectives, whilst also making essential progress towards addressing the climate and nature emergencies.   

Creating green jobs and growth in our rural communities is a key priority for this Government. A prosperous trees and forestry sector alongside a thriving agricultural sector is crucial to this. Trees, and the timber they produce, have a key role to play in the environmental and economic future of Wales. The benefits of building with timber are being ever more widely recognised, creating sustainable homes which contribute to climate change mitigation by capturing carbon within buildings for their lifetime. There is real potential for Wales to increase and add-value to our use of timber, supporting innovation and developing skills in this renewable land-based sector.  We will be publishing a consultation on a Timber Industrial Strategy for Wales in the new year, along with a Skills Plan which will set out clear actions to improve and expand forestry and timber sector skills in Wales.

The benefits of trees and woodland for communities and individuals are also fundamental to the health and wellbeing of everyone in Wales. Our National Forest for Wales is supporting many different types of woodland, including small community focussed woodlands as well as large productive forests.  We now have 55 sites in the National Forest, covering some 3600 hectares.  This is in addition to 26 blocks from the Welsh Government Woodland Estate, bringing the total area of land in the National Forest to over 68,000 hectares.  We will continue to grow the National Forest the length and breadth of Wales and are looking to test a landscape scale approach as well as developing a National Forest Trail. 

Ancient Woodlands are an irreplaceable natural resource with significant landscape, biodiversity and cultural value.  They face multiple threats, both direct and indirect and action is required across a range of different policy areas. I am fully committed to their protection and will be publishing our approach to strengthening their protection in the New Year in line with our Programme for Government commitment. 

During the Taskforce meeting I was both inspired by the achievements of other UK nations and also proud of the progress we have made here.  I believe the importance of this work in Wales can only be enhanced by working collaboratively with other nations in the UK as part of this new Tree Planting Taskforce.

This statement is being issued during recess to keep Members informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.