Woodland scheme ‘not good enough’

THE amount of new woodland created in Wales is “not good enough”, according to First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Mr Drakeford conceded that the Welsh Government had fallen massively short of its target of creating 2,000 hectares of woodland every year.

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price challenged the First Minister on the fact it had only planted 80 hectares in the year up until March.

In light of the recent flooding in Pentre, Rhondda, Mr Price pointed to research that showed tree planting would help protect vulnerable communities.

He said: “Research by the universities of Birmingham and Southampton shows that planting trees around rivers could reduce the height of flooding in towns by up to 20%.

“Almost a decade ago, the Welsh Government adopted the ambitious and widely lauded target of planting 5,000 hectares of new woodland every year until 2030. This target was dropped to 2,000 hectares.

“In the last five years, the Welsh Government has achieved an average of just 300 hectares a year, and in the 12 months up until March this year, it achieved just 80 hectares – 4% of the target. First Minister, where’s the urgency in the climate emergency?”

Mr Drakeford said he had “enormous sympathies” for those individuals who have spent the time over the past couple of months getting their homes back in order, only for them to be flooded again.

He also conceded the Welsh Government’s tree-planting record was not up to scratch, adding: “I agree with the member that the extent of woodland creation in Wales last year was not good enough.

“It’s important to say that, as well as new woodland creation, an enormous effort goes into the restocking of woodland.

“And, in fact, we planted more trees in restocking woodland last year than we did the year before. But new woodland creation was not where we would want it to be last year.

“It is, to some extent, a factor of timings within the rural development programme as to when money is released to the sector.

“The Glastir woodland creation rounds have been the most successful means we have found to date to stimulate the planting of new trees in Wales.

“Its budget will now be £8m, up from £2m, and I am confident we will see a significant and necessary increase in new woodland creation in Wales, alongside our ambitions for a national forest.”

Mr Price called for an inquiry into the flooding, which the First Minister refused.

Mr Drakeford said “there will be inquiries” but there are the “legal responsibilities that fall on the local authority and Natural Resources Wales”.

In a statement, Mr Price said: “What the people of the Rhondda want is an immediate and expert-led inquiry to discover why they are enduring persistent flooding, and crucially, what needs to be done to stop this.

“Despite recognising that some measures they have taken to tackle climate emergency have been inadequate, it was deeply disappointing that the First Minister did not even consider calling for an inquiry. Where is their urgency in the climate emergency?”