Forestry Commission Chair welcomes new England Trees Action Plan to treble tree planting rates in England바카라 사이트¯
Forestry Commission at the helm of ambitious new commitments to tree planting to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises
A photo of Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley
Today (Tuesday 18 May) the Forestry Commission has welcomed a new government commitment to protect, enhance and restore nature and help meet Net Zero by 2050, using nature-based solutions to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis, including new commitments for tree planting and tree health in England. This builds on the recommendations of the Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity.
Launched today during a landmark speech by the Environment Secretary George Eustice, the England Trees Action Plan (ETAP) will aim바카라 사이트¯to at least treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament, reflecting England바카라 사이트™s contribution to meeting the UK바카라 사이트™s overall target of planting 30,000 hectares per year by바카라 사이트¯the end of this Parliament.
As the government바카라 사이트™s expert forestry advisors and custodians of the nation바카라 사이트™s forests, the Forestry Commission will be a key delivery partner in meeting this ambition.
Also speaking today, the Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley announced a new flagship grant바카라 사이트¯scheme - the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO). The new scheme for바카라 사이트¯farmers and landowners will바카라 사이트¯support바카라 사이트¯the creation of a range of woodland types and sizes, including through natural colonisation, and especially where their location and design will provide public benefits.
The offer will be open to applications of바카라 사이트¯small areas of land from바카라 사이트¯1 hectare upwards, providing greater incentives for farmers and landowners to consider tree planting as a sustainable option.바카라 사이트¯The grant is due to launch soon and바카라 사이트¯particularly바카라 사이트¯incentivises바카라 사이트¯the creation of바카라 사이트¯new native woodland,바카라 사이트¯especially바카라 사이트¯where this extends바카라 사이트¯existing priority woodlands바카라 사이트¯or바카라 사이트¯benefits바카라 사이트¯water habitats by planting along바카라 사이트¯rivers, or provides recreational access to the public.
The ETAP will provide a raft of new measures to boost tree planting and establishment including an enhanced role for private finance, improving woodland management in England, supporting a thriving green economy and bringing trees closer to people.
Supported by over £500m from the Nature for Climate Fund between 2020 and 2025, this is a once in a generation plan to help achieve this vision.
Speaking today at Delamere Forest,바카라 사이트¯Forestry Commission Chair, Sir William Worsley, said:
It is crucial that we act now to ensure that we leave our environment in a better state for future generations. We need to work towards net zero emissions by 2050; to address biodiversity loss; to better connect people with nature; and to create more green jobs in doing so. Trees are central to the 바카라 사이트바카라 사이트™s plans to achieve this, and it is through the ambitious programme of activity set out in the England Trees Action Plan - supported by £500m from the Nature for Climate Fund 바카라 사이트“ that we can realise these huge objectives.
Sara Lom, CEO, The Tree Council said:
2021 is a pivotal moment for trees and for our planet. The Tree Council welcomes the England Trees Action Plan as a strong roadmap for ambitious action to plant, care for and protect the trees and hedgerows which gladden our towns, cities and countryside. By trebling tree planting rates in England, this Action Plan will support trees바카라 사이트™ vital role in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises which threaten our landscapes and our livelihoods.
The Action Plan will help see an unprecedented number of trees planted, protected and managed to deliver more for society, nature, the climate and the economy, through:
- The England Woodland Creation Offer 바카라 사이트“ a major new woodland creation grant바카라 사이트¯to create over 10,000 hectares of new woodland바카라 사이트¯over the lifetime of the바카라 사이트¯grant. The grant will provide both greater financial incentives to plant and maintain trees and offer greater recognition of the benefits provided by woodland to people and nature. More guidance on eligibility and the application process will follow.
- Extending the Urban Trees Challenge Fund, providing바카라 사이트¯further바카라 사이트¯investment바카라 사이트¯to support the planting and establishment of trees in urban areas.
- Providing additional바카라 사이트¯funding바카라 사이트¯as part of the Local Authority Treescape Fund바카라 사이트¯to plant trees outside of woodlands for the benefit of local communities.
- Expanding the size of바카라 사이트¯the nation바카라 사이트™s바카라 사이트¯forests바카라 사이트¯by working with바카라 사이트¯public and바카라 사이트¯private바카라 사이트¯land바카라 사이트¯owners바카라 사이트¯to바카라 사이트¯create new woodlands바카라 사이트¯under바카라 사이트¯Forestry England바카라 사이트™s바카라 사이트¯management.바카라 사이트¯
- Creating at least three new Community Forests바카라 사이트¯providing바카라 사이트¯greater public바카라 사이트¯access to woodlands where they are needed most.
Biosecurity is central to protecting both the 바카라 사이트바카라 사이트™s significant investment in tree planting, ensuring our trees and woodlands are protected in the long term.바카라 사이트¯In addition to the action plan, we will be introducing a three-year tree health pilot scheme to build the resilience of England바카라 사이트™s trees, woods and forests and to enhance the benefits trees provide, by mitigating and minimising the impact of pests and diseases. This builds on the elements being introduced in the action plan to expand the tree health grants provided to treat or fell diseased trees and to restock following a tree health issue.
The Nature For Climate fund will help us deliver the English portion of the government바카라 사이트™s manifesto commitment to increase tree planting to 30,000 hectares per year across the UK by 2025, alongside peatland restoration and nature recovery.