The Welsh Conservative’s Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rural Affairs – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has today (01 December) called on her fellow Members in the Welsh Parliament to maintain pressure on the Welsh Government to demand transparency on its tree planting plans, as she marks National Tree Planting Week 2020.
National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season (November to March each year). Whilst Coronavirus restrictions have meant that most in-person events are cancelled, the Tree Council have put together a week-long programme of fantastic free arts and culture events online, inspired by trees, to mark the occasion.
Commenting, Janet said:
“Up and down Wales, schools and volunteer groups will be marking this important celebration of trees by planting these essential organs of the Earth in abundance. This next generation of global leaders will no-doubt be buoyed by recent public announcements on tree planting from all quarters of the political sphere – and we should take note of their wishes.
“However, whilst grand plans are all well and good, it is only by maintaining the pressure on the Welsh Government to meet their tree planting targets that elected Members can ensure that progress is made towards delivering on our nation's carbon targets, as well as creating and retaining thousands of jobs in areas including tree planting, horticulture, and equipment and seed supply.
“The latest statistics show that Wales lags well behind our tree planting goals, with just 1,200 acres (520 hectares) of new woodland planted in 2018-19. This level of inaction by the Welsh Government runs in contrast to the stark warning by the UK Committee on Climate Change, who have called for significant rises in tree planting to meet legally binding targets on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
“A decade ago the Welsh Government adopted a target of planting 5,000 hectares of new woodland every year until 2030. Not only was this target lopped to 2,000 hectares, but the Welsh Government is even struggling to reach that!
“We all know the good that trees can bring to our health and well-being, from absorbing carbon emissions to protecting against soil erosion in flood prone areas. So, I urge this sluggish Welsh Government to listen to the concerns of opposition Members, and urgently bring forward more information on their designs for a new national forest and planting scheme funding, so that our nation can set about planting for prosperity.”
ENDS
Photo: https://unsplash.com/@aiokr
