Consultation launched on the England Tree Strategy
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Government consults on plans to update its policy for trees,
woodland and forestry through creation of a new England Tree
Strategy. Consultation to run for 12 weeks, seeking
views on how to increase tree planting and tree and woodland
management. Trees are a unique natural asset that play
a crucial role in combating the biodiversity and climate crises we
face. The government’s environmental programme will
play its full part as...Request free
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Plans to accelerate tree planting and improve
the management of our existing trees and woodlands are underway
as the government today (19 June) launched a consultation which will inform a new
England Tree Strategy.
Everyone – from farmers, foresters and land
managers, experts and environmental organisations, to members of
the public – is being invited to give their views on the future
creation and management of our trees, woodlands and
forests.
Subject to consultation, the new strategy will
set out policies to expand tree cover,
support woodland management and increase public engagement with
trees and woodlands. It
will help ensure the government's
tree planting commitment – to
increase tree planting to 30,000 hectares per
year across the UK by 2025 - is
delivered, working closely with the devolved administrations,
communities and landowners to do so.
The government is asking for views
on:
By growing, protecting and restoring our
trees, forests and woodlands we can help reduce carbon emissions,
encourage biodiversity and nature recovery, grow our sustainable
timber market, and improve people’s health and
wellbeing.
Launching the consultation, Forestry
Minister Lord Goldsmith,
said:
“In many ways the coronavirus pandemic has
shone a light on the importance of nature. Growing and protecting
our nation’s forests will be an integral part of our recovery,
and the England Tree Strategy will give us the tools to do
this.
“This consultation will help inform a keystone
strategy which will be vital for helping us deliver the
government’s tree planting commitment, our commitment to the
recovery of nature and reaching net zero emissions by
2050.
“But, we need input from the sector and
public. I encourage everyone to give their views to design a tree
strategy that delivers the maximum benefits for our environment
for generations to come.”
In the March Budget, Defra
welcomed the new Nature for Climate Fund from HM Treasury. The
England Tree Strategy will help inform how elements of this
£640million fund will be used to deliver against the manifesto
tree planting commitments, alongside peatland restoration and
wider nature recovery.
Forestry Commission Chair and former
National Tree Champion, Sir William Worsley
said:
“The England Tree Strategy will set out how we
plan to accelerate woodland creation, but also importantly how to
manage and protect the trees we already have. Significant work
has gone into developing the groundwork for a strategy which will
ensure the right tree is planted in the right place, and for the
right reason.
“We now need people to submit their views, to
design a strategy that increases and balances the different
benefits that our woodlands provide, to nature, to people, and to
the economy.
“The Forestry Commission will be at the
forefront of delivery and I look forward to working closely with
Defra and all stakeholders involved at this exciting
time.”
The England Tree Strategy will be developed in
parallel with other key strategies that flow from the 25 Year
Environment Plan. These include the recent Tree Health Resilience
Strategy and the forthcoming England Peat Strategy and Nature
Strategy, as well the future Environmental Land Management Scheme
which will operate on the basis of providing public payments for
public goods.
In close alignment with the England Tree
Strategy, targeted stakeholder engagement is currently underway
to shape the development of the England Peat Strategy and the
peatland aspects of the Nature for Climate Fund.
Integrating the aims of the England Tree
Strategy with the wider ongoing work in these areas enables a
coordinated vision that delivers real,
sustainable change.
The consultation period is due to conclude in
12 weeks on 11 September 2020. Subject to review, the England
Tree Strategy will be published later in the
year.
ENDS.
Notes to
Editors
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