England to blame for the UK’s tree-planting shortages

The UK government has, on the Committee on Climate Change’s advice to plant 1.5 billion trees to become net zero carbon emitters by 2050, pledged to invest heavily in tree planting.

 

But despite seeing continuous growth since recordings started in 1905, it still falls short of its target. England aimed for 5,000 hectares in 2018-19 to comply with the future target, but only managed 1,420 hectares.

 

Figures from the Forestry Commission revealed that England’s rate in 2019, when accounting for both new tree planting and restocking of standings forests, was around one-third of that from 2015. Scotland experienced its best year on record, now with 84% of all tree planting in the UK.

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The Woodland Trust is trying to turn the tide. The charity has pledged to plant as many trees as UK inhabitants by 2025. Will Evans planted hedges on his farm with support from the trust. He calls for greater opportunities to pair people with land with those with resources and ambition to help with “flooding, carbon retention and wildlife habitat”. “So far, the costs that come with the government’s eco-schemes makes it very hard,” he says.

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Alexandre Koberle, climate researcher at the Grantham Institute in London, agrees with Evans and cherishes the Woodland Trust. Koberle, however, says that tree planting is questionable from a carbon offsetting perspective: “Tree-planting doesn’t have the same benefits as preserving and restoring standing forests,” he says.

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Ruby Harrison, PR officer at the Woodland Trust, sees their work as “part of the solution” to battle climate change. “But we’re mindful too that the message shouldn’t be confused as the sole answer,” she says