To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reverse the reported historic deforestation of native woodland ecosystems; and what funding they are providing for that.
Answered on
17 March 2023
We have legislated a statutory tree and woodland target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover of England to 16.5% by 2050. By laying a statutory long-term tree and woodland target before Parliament we have ensured trees and woodlands will remain a government priority through to 2050.
Forestry England continue to restore plantations on ancient woodland sites with restoration of around 20,000ha being carried out over the last 10 years. Work on restoring other habitats on the public estate continues. By 2050 and beyond we will, improve the condition of the majority of native woodland to make sure they’re either in favourable ecological condition or improving by 2030. We will also restore or gradually restore the majority of plantations on ancient woodland sites to native woodland by 2030.