Forests: Conservation

(asked on 24th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to preserve forests throughout the UK.


Answered by
David Rutley Portrait
David Rutley
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 2nd July 2019

Trees are vital environmental, social and economic assets. We need to take action to protect all trees from pests and diseases to preserve the benefits trees provide, include those trees that are planted within the Northern Forest.

Our woodlands and forests are protected by the Forestry Act and Felling Licence regulations. In most cases a licence is required from the Forestry Commission before a landowner can undertake tree felling, with the Forestry Commission taking into account the UK Forestry Standard when considering felling applications. Where clear felling takes place there is, in most cases, a requirement to restock the woodland to maintain our woodland resource.

Protecting trees from pests and diseases is essential in realising our ambition to leave the environment in a better state for the next generation. The Tree Health Resilience strategy, published in May 2018, sets out how Government will work with others to reduce the risk of pest and disease threats, and how we will strengthen the resilience of our trees to withstand these threats. The strategy includes a National Action Plan that sets out what we are already doing and what we and others will need to do to protect our trees.

The Government has invested £5.7m to kick-start the development of the Northern Forest, which will have planted 1.8 million trees by the end of the Parliament to offer a firm foundation to continue to deliver against its longer term vision.

The Government has a manifesto commitment to ensure stronger protection for our ancient woodlands and the irreplaceable nature of ancient woodlands is recognised in our 25 Year Environment Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. Planning authorities are required to consult the Natural England and Forestry Commission ‘standing advice’ on ancient woodland and veteran trees when determining planning applications that may affect such habitats.

The Government is also providing funding of £5m for the HS2 Woodland Fund. This supports the restoration of existing plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) as well as the creation of new native woodland.

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