North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has spoken in the Assembly Chamber this week of the need for more tree planting in Wales.
During the Debate on the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee report: ‘Branching out: a new ambition for woodland policies’, Mr Isherwood highlighted the reasons why more trees are needed and calls by Confor (the Confederation of Forest Industries) for a national campaign for Welsh forestry and timber.
He said:
“The first recommendation in this Committee report states: 'The Welsh Government must, as a matter of urgency, refresh its woodland strategy with the aim of significantly increasing planting rates.' And its final recommendation states: 'the Welsh Government must ensure that future funding should be based on sustainable outcomes.'
“However, Confor, the Confederation of Forest Industries, states that, although forests in Wales are managed to the UK forestry standard, which defines sustainable forest management as the basis for the Woodlands for Wales strategy, planting trees is often viewed negatively. Government agencies, non-Government agencies and society oppose land-use change, leading to a presumption against woodland creation and the loss of the benefits of modern mixed forestry for people and the environment.
“They therefore call for an acceptance of land-use change at a significant scale, a Government willing to promote forestry, and a national campaign for Welsh forestry and timber, stating that Wales will benefit because modern forestry operates to a world-leading sustainability standard that leaves other sectors far behind and produces a natural, versatile and infinitely renewable material, creating vibrant places for recreation and biodiversity in the process.
“But they also state that, in addition to producing timber, forests must be designed to mitigate flooding and conserve important species and habitat. As Wales Species Champion for the Curlew, a bird which has historically been hugely affected by inappropriately located forestry plantations in the uplands, I'm concerned to ensure that, while woodland expansion in Wales has the potential to make a significant contribution to securing resilient woodland ecosystems, it must be appropriately located.
“As the RSPB states, appropriately located and well-designed woodland expansion has the potential to make a significant contribution to restoring and enhancing woodland biodiversity in Wales.
Mr Isherwood added: “Timber production plans should aim to deliver a range of benefits including biodiversity, water flow and quality improvements, and recreation opportunities alongside sustainable timber production. In recent years, woodland expansion in Wales has been restricted to the creation of numerous small woodlands, many located on farms, through both Glastir woodland creation and the Glastir small grants scheme. Many of these woodlands have involved the planting of the last remaining areas of semi-natural habitat within the landscape, and the loss of these last refuges is likely to have a significant impact on farm wildlife. Ensuring the impacts of woodland expansion are fully understood will be vital to avoiding future problems, and this can only be achieved through appropriate monitoring. Learning the lessons of poor historical forestry practice is vital if we are to secure our natural resources for future generations. Ensuring woodland expansion avoids negatively impacting on the species and habitats that underpin our natural resources will be critical.”