Woodland expansion for climate fight at risk from Government plans – charity

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Weakening planning rules and rowing back on plans to pay farmers for woodland creation could hit the UK’s tree planting efforts to tackle climate change, campaigners warn. The Woodland Trust is warning that Government moves to relax planning policy in “investment zones” and rumoured risks to a new scheme to pay farmers for creating habitat could see the UK lose more trees and plant fewer. The Woodland Trust said getting the billions more trees in the ground needed for the target requires financial incentives for farmers and landowners to incorporate new planting into productive farms. The very last thing we need is to weaken protections and create uncertainties for farmers and landowners Darren Moorcroft, Woodland Trust “On the basis of what we’ve learned from Government so far since the mini-budget, the UK could lose more trees and woods, and plant fewer at a time when we need to strengthen protection and ramp up woodland expansion to tackle the nature and climate crises.