The Government Created Roadblocks in UK Tree Planting and Land Management

Resoundingly, the UK's environmental industry is joining together, forming a choir of criticism. The hymn we're all singing is, "Tree planting and better land management practices aren't happening fast enough in the UK". Sadly, we've been singing this same song for so long that we could be mistaken for a broken record.

Wood For The Trees has put together a series of films documenting efforts and discussing where UK tree planting is. One film, "What is holding back woodland creation in the UK?" touches on government targets that aren't high enough, and there isn't enough conviction in goals to follow through, with annual targets not being met and then reduced rather than putting in more effort. Grant applications are too involved, take too long to complete, and take too long to receive notice. Finally, and more a reflection on our industry as proponents for green, there needs to be more knowledge going to landowners and those in a position to make changes about the benefits of natural spaces and land management.

These are themes Protect Earth has reflected on elsewhere.

Lack of Accountability: Is the Government Serious About Reforestation?

It's true. The government has set a target to reforest 30,000 hectares in the UK annually by 2025. In the 2023/24 year, the government reported 16,000 hectares planted in the UK—a figure substantially below the target. This gives no one confidence that the government can ramp up planting to achieve goals. Here’s our more in-depth piece on this topic.

For each year that the government doesn't hit the targets they set, making sure we're on course to reduce carbon by 68% by 2030 and 100% by 2050, they say to each other, "Don't beat yourself up. We'll get to it," rather than incentivising or penalising anyone. Government commitment to reforestation is similar to a New Year's Resolution—forgotten once it's said.

Over the last decade, frequent government changes have caused inconsistent goals, leading to high churn and energy wasted on constant readjustment. It should be noted that the UK has amongst the lowest forestry coverage in Europe.

Another point in "What is holding back woodland creation in the UK?" is the need for more investment in the UK tree nursery sector. Greenspaces require creation from the right saplings (native plants found in the UK), originating close to where they are planted in their forever homes for better natural resilience. An oak sapling starting life in milder and dryer Kent will probably be ok in the Scottish Borders, but an oak grown from an acorn harvested in the Scottish Borders will be better suited to those conditions. We need a tighter web of nurseries distributed throughout the UK to achieve this localisation. Additionally, the number of replacement trees required to combat the increasing number of diseases also demands more investment in nurseries. We need more trees as more trees become sick and require removal.

Challenges in Navigating Tree-Planting Grants

The section title says it all.

Within Protect Earth, we were stumped when we first started applying for grants. We know lateral organisations have also been bamboozled by application processes. We regularly receive pleas from landowners and others who want to plant trees but struggle with the government's grant applications.

After all is said and done—when the 'i's are dotted and the 't's crossed—it takes an absolute age for a response. Applicants are left in the dark on where their application is in the process and when they might expect a reply, hopeful to soon get on with their habitat restoration projects.

Our understanding of the situation is based solely on feedback. Unfortunately, there's a significant lack of data on the number of abandoned applications and the average processing time for applications. This information is crucial for fully comprehending the problem's extent and proposing practical solutions.

Taking the Lead: The Role of NGOs and Charities in Land Management Advocacy

This is an area the environmental industry in the UK should improve on.

The reliance on promoting green space development shouldn't be placed on the government. They're failing. Time and again. Relying on the government to do something they've already failed to do is to back the wrong horse. So, the industry should swap seats from the passenger to the driver, taking charge of advocating to the public, companies, and landowners the omniscient benefits the UK would see by increasing how much green we have.

We— environmental charities, groups, and companies—should decide what the message is and blast it collectively. It's not a particularly difficult message; there is a lot of disused land in the UK that would benefit the environment and society if it could be transformed into a space where the right mix of native plants could thrive, promoting sustainable land management and expanding UK tree planting efforts.

What’s at risk is biodiversity.

To sum up

The urgency for better land management and increased UK tree planting is more crucial than ever. The UK needs decisive action to avoid falling further behind government-set environmental commitments. It's time for NGOs, charities, and communities to unite, demanding accountability and championing sustainable practices. We can make a difference in enhancing biodiversity and green spaces by prioritising localised tree planting and effective land management strategies.