Plans to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament to be set out by the Environment Secretary in a speech this week
In a speech that will outline the government’s ambitions to create more woodlands, protect our peatlands and boost biodiversity, he will set out how new measures to increase tree planting will form a central pillar in the efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Under the new target, approximately 7,000 hectares of woodlands will be planted per year by the end of this Parliament (May 2024) alongside new initiatives to improve the health of our trees, create more woodlands in cities, and deliver thousands of green jobs as we build back greener from the pandemic.
The increase in woodland creation rates will be backed up by new funding for tree nurseries to improve our domestic tree production and maintain high levels of biosecurity. This will ensure the trees we plant now are healthy and resilient to the impacts of changing climate and increasing threats from pests and diseases.
Launching the plan, the Environment Secretary George Eustice is expected to say: “We are putting plans in place to treble woodland creation rates by the end of this Parliament, reflecting England’s contribution to meeting the UK’s overall target of planting 30,000 hectares per year by the end of this Parliament. We will make sure that the right trees are planted in the right places and that more green jobs are created in the forestry sector.”
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Posted On: 17/05/2021