INDUSTRY ‘OPTIMISTIC’ THIS WILL SORT ‘MESS’

FORESTRY and wood trade body Confor said a new approach to woodland creation was needed as the current system was a “mess”.

Anthony Geddes, Confor’s national manager for Wales, welcomed the latest proposals and described the new targets as “ambitious but achievable”.

But he said it was time to move from “aspiration to delivery”.

He added: “I am very optimistic that after years of over-promise and under-delivery, we can now kick-start a new era for forestry and wood in Wales.”

Shadow climate change minister Janet FinchSaunders warned safeguards were needed to prevent “inappropriate plantation” on valuable open habitats.

She said current funding schemes were too complex and greater engagement with farmers was needed.

The Aberconwy MS added: “Given that about one third of the around 309,000 ha of woodland in Wales are found on agricultural land, I am extremely perplexed as to why the Welsh Government’s woodland taskforce has seemed to exclude the likes of NFU Cymru, FUW, and the Countryside Alliance.”

To boost the timber supply sector, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has already committed to selling up to 30% of its timber through alternative means, rather than focussing solely on getting the highest prices.

Welcoming the Welsh Government’s “national call to arms”, NRW said that, in addition to addressing the climate emergency, tree planting will also create green jobs, improve habitats, mitigate flooding and pollution, and increase well-being.

“The benefits of tree planting are too great to pass up,” said NRW director Sarah Jennings.