Rejected petition Introduce statutory targets, and a duty to report on progress, to increase woodland cover in Wales
Wales needs to plant 5,000 ha per yr to meet its ambition for increasing tree cover.
But Wales planted 670 ha in 2018/2019, before Covid, and only 290 ha of new woodland was planted in 2020/2021.
If 2050 net zero target is to be met in Wales the UK Committee on Climate Change has called for a significant increase in tree planting.
Statutory targets for both broadleaved trees and conifers, and a requirement for Government to report to the Senedd on progress, are now required to force the pace.
More details
The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 requires Wales to meet net zero emissions by 2050 and sets interim targets for 2030 and 2040
The Welsh Government declared a climate emergency in 2019 and set goals for Wales for woodland creation to capture carbon and contribute to achieving net zero.
However, not enough woodland is being planted to meet the goals already set out for Wales – see page 42 of https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/documents/8143/Ch1_Woodland_FS2021.pdf.
The Welsh public expects firm action to combat climate change and when ambitions are not being met, action is required.
The ambition for Wales, to increase woodland cover by 5000 hectares per year, as set out in in a Written Statement: Trees and Timber by Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change in July 2021 needs now to be turned into legally-binding targets.
Meeting and reporting such statutory targets will then enable Wales to meet its overall goal of being net-zero by 2050.
Why was this petition rejected?
It did not collect enough signatures to be referred to the Petitions Committee.
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