Concerns raised over plans for new wind farm

WALES has lost nearly two million trees as a result of the clearance of forested areas to make way for wind farms.

This information was obtained from NRW by Welsh Conservative MS Altaf Hussain. He asked the question in the light of concerns being raised by residents of Bryn and neighbouring communities in the Afan and Llynfi valleys over plans to put a new wind farm on Margam Mountain.

Dr Hussain was told that 1.9 million tress have been felled on former Forestry Commission land in Wales for windfarms to date and that 723,000 were removed to make way for just one windfarm – Penycymoedd which is on land adjoining the proposed Y Bryn windfarm.

Dr Hussain said that Welsh Government had plans to plant more than 80 million trees in Wales by 2030.

“I am wondering how this will be achieved when creating windfarms requires that thousands of existing trees are felled in order to make the space for the turbines and the access roads,” he said. “Welsh Government supports more wind power but it looks like these two aims may be difficult to reconcile unless we plant trees on land currently used as grazing for sheep and cattle.

“Our food production in Wales is already under threat from outside companies moving in and buying up family farms so that trees can be planted as part of carbon offset schemes.

“It is my understanding that Welsh Government supports this as it will boost total tree planting figures. But there will massive social and economic costs.

“Wales is a major producer of lamb and beef and our small, family farms support a way of life in rural Wales in particular that has flourished for centuries.

“Small farming communities are the bedrock of Welsh culture and language and without them we will end up with mile after mile of soulless plantations of non-native species which provide no work, no habitat for wildlife and give no support to the many businesses that rely on farming. It is a bleak prospect.”