The Horticultural Trades Association has welcomed the latest tree action plan for England to emerge from Defra, but warns that the plan is short on the necessary detail - particularly for boosting UK nursery production.
Market place confidence is needed by the industry if the Government’s plans are to be realised, they stated.
With trees one of the single biggest ways for sequestering carbon, the trade body for UK commercial tree and plant growers, backs moves to increase tree planting to help support Government plans to achieve Net Zero.
Chairman of the HTA Tree & Hedging Group, Steven Green of Johnsons of Whixley said: “Although the new action plan makes provision for increasing UK nursery production, for the Government’s Action Plan to be successful they need to ensure there is full confidence in the market place. UK nurseries will not produce new trees if there is still a lack of detail and uncertainty. The Government must step in and be more definitive – setting the planting targets into legislation would be a way to do this.
“We are delighted to see recognition of the industry-led ‘Plant Healthy’ and ‘Plant Health Management Standard’ initiatives to underpin biosecurity. This is exactly the approach which engages the industry and ensures exemplar best practice becomes the norm, rather than trade restrictions which harm UK businesses.
“We are committed to working with Government on this Action Plan and want to see the reality of more trees planted in the UK successfully realised.”
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.
Environment
Secretary George Eustice said: “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.
“The events of the last twelve months have led people to appreciate the difference that nature makes to our lives more than ever before. There is an increased awareness of the link between our own health, and economic prosperity, and that of the planet– as highlighted by the recent Dasgupta Review of the economics of biodiversity.”
Last week, the government marked less than six months to go before the UK hosts the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow later this year. In the run up to the summit, the UK is focused on four goals to drive progress: securing global net zero, protecting communities and natural habitats from the impacts of climate change, mobilising finance and working together to accelerate action.
