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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential for (a) tree-planting and reforestation and (b) the prevention of deforestation to help the UK meet its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

Our English Tree Strategy will detail our national afforestation initiatives to help address the UK Government’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. The consultation for the English Tree Strategy will be launched later this year. Our Tree Champion is leading our engagement with forestry, environmental and other stakeholders, to inform our development of the Strategy.

This Government is committed to tackling climate change, as demonstrated by legislating to end the UK’s contribution to global warming by 2050 by enshrining a net zero emissions target in law.

Tree planting can be a major contributor to nature-based carbon sequestration. Our manifesto committed to planting 11 million trees by 2022, and we are committed to the aspiration of reaching 12% woodland cover in England by 2060.