Legal Protections for Ancient Trees Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Roborough
Main Page: Lord Roborough (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Roborough's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(1 month, 1 week ago)
Lords ChamberThe Forestry Commission reports to Defra, to my colleague Mary Creagh MP. I know that she has been working very hard to ensure that the kinds of issues my noble friend talks about are better taken into account, including how the commission manages its estates, the kind of trees that are planted and how to bring in proper enforcement where required.
My Lords, there is a greater problem in incentivising land managers to plant enough of the right trees to protect our watercourses, promote nature recovery, sequester carbon and increase our timber self-sufficiency from the current 27%. Properly planned planting that complies with UK forestry standards can meet all these objectives. What actions are the Minister’s Government taking to increase the percentage of productive tree species planted in England? I refer the House to my registered interest as a forest developer and owner.