{"id":8750,"date":"2023-07-20T11:23:25","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T01:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=8750"},"modified":"2024-12-22T11:45:54","modified_gmt":"2024-12-22T01:45:54","slug":"uks-net-zero-at-risk-after-missing-tree-planting-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/uks-net-zero-at-risk-after-missing-tree-planting-targets\/","title":{"rendered":"UK’s Net Zero at Risk After Missing Tree Planting Targets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The UK is struggling to meet tree-planting targets following a new report showing that less than half of the committed trees have been planted in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published “ambitious” nature targets<\/a>, a requirement under the Environment Act, including the goal of planting 30,000 hectares of woodland by March 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report by the environmental audit committee (EAC) of cross-party MPs has found that this target was unlikely to be met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Guardian reports that inaction on trees<\/a> risks the UK’s net zero targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the public sector is responsible for a quarter of all UK forest area, the Report found there was not enough direction from the government for the private sector, which faces “unclear strategies and overly bureaucratic schemes.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Report highlights a failed generation of policymaking. <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Tree planting is crucial for meeting carbon and biodiversity targets and sustainability in the building industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the CEO of Confor<\/a>, Stuart Goodall, the report “highlights how a failed generation of policymaking has led to a decline in wood production in England.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, it will jeopardise the nation’s ability to achieve net zero by 2050 and “mitigate a growing timber crisis,” Mr Goodall said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This needs to be a watershed moment that puts timber production at the heart of policymaking in England, where it belongs.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confor is the peak body for UK’s sustainable forestry and wood-based businesses and calls for greater investment in tree-planting and wood production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Importantly, it stresses what Confor has said for years: a sharp increase in timber production can be achieved at the same time as addressing the climate emergency and nature crisis.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Economic and environmental benefits can be delivered in tandem, he said, “The very title of the report recognises this.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stuart Goodall, CEO of Confor, with Lord Deben and Chris Davies MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Forestry. Dated 2019. (Photo Credit: Supplied by Confor).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The UK needs to transition to a timber-based construction economy.<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

As reported in Guernsey Press<\/a>, the committee said no single strategy articulates the Government\u2019s vision for the timber sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nor is there a clear plan to integrate that with delivery on nature restoration and climate change mitigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chair of the committee, Philip Dunne, said: \u201cAs we look to meet our net zero and nature goals, pressures on woodland will grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe construction industry is increasingly looking to move from steel and concrete to lower carbon alternatives, and timber is well placed to step in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIncreasing productive forestry is welcome, though the Government must ensure that this isn\u2019t at the expense of biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also noted that biobased renewables, like biomass, must be sustainably sourced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More trees to support the demand for low-carbon materials.<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

The EAC report says UK-sourced timber will help meet the growing demand for low-carbon construction materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It adds that a significant expansion of woodland cover is required to compensate for predicted shortfalls in domestically produced softwood timber supply and to deliver the UK’s climate and environment goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Report recommends that the government focus on tree planting for its upcoming and delayed land use framework, <\/a>which is supposed to be a blueprint for how land is allocated in the UK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defra minister Mark Spencer recently hinted that it would be watered down,<\/a> saying it would not be a “communist” document telling landowners what to do with their estates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tory MP Mark Spencer was appointed DEFRA Minister in a cabinet reshuffle in September 2022. He is the minister responsible for the program. (Photo Credit: UK Parliament Official Portrait) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Report says the wrong species being planted could also be a disaster for nature, recommending that native broadleaves offer ideal habitats for wildlife. At the same time, conifers supply softwood for timber use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Mr Goodall, a stronger focus on productive forestry is needed to grow timber more timber to meet future demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This is the call for a properly integrated and long-term vision for forestry that we have been asking for, for decades,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Getting planting done, and insisting that the private sector is encouraged to plant all types of woodland, with a strong focus on productive forestry to grow timber.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forestry England is underresourced to meet commitments.<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

The committee found this balance was unlikely to be struck, as the UK Forestry Standard<\/a> is not routinely monitored, and Forestry England needs more resources to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The committee said it was “disappointed to observe that Forestry England is not currently on track to contribute fully to national tree-planting targets: to date, it has only planted 303 hectares against its target of 2,000 hectares between 2021-2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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