Confor urges Welsh Government to plant millions more trees

Mr Geddes said: “If these targets are achieved it would lead to 59,000 hectares of new woodland creation in Wales, which would make a substantial contribution towards reducing atmospheric carbon and helping to halt damaging climate change. 

“The recent increase in the appetite to plant is very encouraging and is being led by Welsh farmers and landowners. These are woodlands that could be created in Welsh communities providing real improvements in air and water quality, flood reduction, habitat connectivity and high-quality welsh timber.” 

“Unfortunately, planting trees in Wales is a real challenge.  Since the announcement of the Climate Emergency, the Glastir programme for woodland creation has been re-introduced and there has been an overwhelming response from Welsh farmers and Landowners to rise to the challenge of planting trees.  However, delays by Rural Payments Wales (RPW) in administering Glastir funding have hit planting opportunities hard. Only 30 percent of the Welsh Government target of 2000 hectares has been funded this year - but due to RPW failings we’re unlikely to see tree planting start till late 2020.”