1-20 of 7,710 results for subject:Forests
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To ask His Majesty's Government what is their intended timetable for (1) laying before the House, and (2) bringing into force, regulations under Schedule 17 to the Environment Act 2021; and why they have not already brought forward such regulations since that Act received Royal Assent.
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their intended timetable for (1) laying before the House, and (2) bringing into force, regulations under Schedule 17 to the Environment Act 2021; and why they have not already brought forward such regulations since that Act received Royal Assent.
This Government recognises the urgency of tackling deforestation globally and the important role the UK has internationally. It plans to consult later this year on the GB approach to deforestation. The proposed approach includes updating existing requirements under the UK Timber Regulation and introducing regulations under Schedule 17 of the Environment Act 2021. It is expected that legislation to implement this regime will be laid in 2027, with a scheme coming into force in 2028.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential economic impact of the timing of UK forest risk commodity regulations on regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland following the application of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 in Northern Ireland.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential economic impact of the timing of UK forest risk commodity regulations on regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland following the application of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 in Northern Ireland.
This Government announced the proposed UK approach to deforestation regulations in June and will consult on the approach in Great Britain later this year. To protect the UK internal market, the proposed Great Britain policy aims to operate alongside the EUDR. This Government also aims to achieve due diligence consistency for businesses working in both the UK internal market and EU single market.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings (1) Ministers, and (2) officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have held with (a) businesses, and (b) trade associations, on the design of regulations under Schedule 17 to the Environment Act 2021 since 5 July 2024.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings (1) Ministers, and (2) officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have held with (a) businesses, and (b) trade associations, on the design of regulations under Schedule 17 to the Environment Act 2021 since 5 July 2024.
This Government plans to consult later this year on the GB approach to deforestation, including on the design of regulations under Schedule 17 of the Environment Act 2021. Defra has been continually engaging with businesses and trade associations in the run-up to consultation (including at least 5 meetings in 2025 and at least 17 meetings in 2026) and will continue close engagement to seek views and encourage responses from businesses and trade associations on our proposed approach.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the levels of risk to England’s trees and woodlands from drought and wildfire; and whether the forthcoming England Trees Action Plan will set out measures and funding to reduce...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the levels of risk to England’s trees and woodlands from drought and wildfire; and whether the forthcoming England Trees Action Plan will set out measures and funding to reduce...
This year the Climate Change Committee published its fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA4), this sets out the risks to trees and woodlands from climate change including wildfire and drought. Defra will set out action to respond to these risks in the forthcoming Trees Action Plan and the fourth National Adaptation Programme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many felling licences Forestry Commission England has granted for clearfelling operations within a) ancient semi-natural woodlands and b) plantation on ancient woodland sites in each of the last 5 years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many felling licences Forestry Commission England has granted for clearfelling operations within a) ancient semi-natural woodlands and b) plantation on ancient woodland sites in each of the last 5 years.
The Forestry Commission regulates tree felling in England. In ancient semi-natural woodland, felling is generally limited to no more than 10% of the woodland area within any five-year period and no more than 20% within any 20-year period, unless there are overriding biodiversity or social benefits. The best available estimates of felling licences granted for clear felling in ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) and plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) over the last five years are shown below. These figures generally relate to clear felling individual coupes within larger woodlands. Most licences require restocking following felling operations.
Number of felling licences
Financial year | Ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNW) | Plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) | ASNW and PAWS | ASNW or PAWS |
2021-22 | 336 | 326 | 220 | 442 |
2022-23 | 280 | 282 | 174 | 388 |
2023-24 | 310 | 292 | 199 | 403 |
2024-25 | 337 | 323 | 218 | 442 |
2025-26 | 369 | 350 | 242 | 477 |
Total | 1,632 | 1,573 | 1,053 | 2,152 |
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help increase woodland cover.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help increase woodland cover.
The Government is committed to meeting the statutory Environment Act target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover in England to at least 16.5% by 2050. We are investing over £1 billion in tree planting and support to the forestry sector over this parliament.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support the Forestry Commission to achieve its target of improving the semi-natural score of plantation in ancient woodland sites by at least one class by 2044.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support the Forestry Commission to achieve its target of improving the semi-natural score of plantation in ancient woodland sites by at least one class by 2044.
Defra is providing support to expand training, monitoring, and on-the-ground restoration work. Targeted Defra funding of £5.9m for 2026–2029 is accelerating PAWS restoration on the Public Forest Estate, with progress closely monitored and a target to work towards doubling the recent restoration rate.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the progress the Forestry Commission has made towards achieving its target of improving the semi-natural score of plantation in ancient woodland sites by at least one class by 2044.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the progress the Forestry Commission has made towards achieving its target of improving the semi-natural score of plantation in ancient woodland sites by at least one class by 2044.
Progress towards the target is assessed annually through Forestry England's semi-natural scoring of plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS), which is reported in Forestry England's Natural Capital Accounts. Between April 2024 and April 2026, 337 hectares moved out of semi-natural score 4 and 303 hectares moved into semi-natural score 1, demonstrating progress towards the 2044 target of improving the semi-natural score of PAWS by at least one class.
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the area of deforestation associated with UK imports of (1) cattle products, (2) soy, (3) palm oil, (4) cocoa, (5) coffee, and (6) rubber, in each year since 2021.
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the area of deforestation associated with UK imports of (1) cattle products, (2) soy, (3) palm oil, (4) cocoa, (5) coffee, and (6) rubber, in each year since 2021.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) what estimate she has made of the proportion of charcoal imported into Great Britain since 2021 that was produced on land deforested after 31 December 2020, and (b) what data her Department holds on charcoal imports from...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) what estimate she has made of the proportion of charcoal imported into Great Britain since 2021 that was produced on land deforested after 31 December 2020, and (b) what data her Department holds on charcoal imports from...
The Government is strengthening its approach to tackling deforestation in UK supply chains. As wood is one of the commodities intended to be covered by the proposed measures, the Government is considering the treatment of specific wood-based products, including charcoal, as policy development continues and ahead of consultation.
The Department is aware of recent reports linking charcoal sold in the UK to deforestation in the Gran Chaco region of Paraguay. The approach to defining the specific products in scope will be set out in Government's consultation for stakeholder feedback. We will seek views from businesses, civil society and international partners on our proposed policy.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which public authority is responsible for determining whether the management of privately owned woodland presents a wildfire risk to neighbouring residential communities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which public authority is responsible for determining whether the management of privately owned woodland presents a wildfire risk to neighbouring residential communities.
Fire and rescue authorities have statutory responsibilities to assess fire and rescue related risks within their areas and make appropriate provision for responding to fires, including wildfires. They work with local authorities and landowners to identify and manage wildfire risks to communities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reviewing the statutory framework for wildfire risk arising from privately owned woodland.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reviewing the statutory framework for wildfire risk arising from privately owned woodland.
To prepare for future wildfire seasons, Defra is strengthening coordination across government and improving our understanding of what works to mitigate wildfire risk. As part of this work, the Department will review the existing frameworks for wildfire risk within Defra's areas of responsibility to consider whether arrangements remain effective.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether charcoal will be a regulated product from the date forest risk commodity regulations come into force in Great Britain.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether charcoal will be a regulated product from the date forest risk commodity regulations come into force in Great Britain.
The Government is strengthening its approach to tackling deforestation in UK supply chains.
As wood is one of the commodities intended to be covered by the proposed measures, the Government is considering the treatment of specific wood-based products, including charcoal, as policy development continues and ahead of consultation.
The approach to defining the specific products in scope will be set out in Government’s consultation for stakeholder feedback. We will seek views from businesses, civil society and international partners on our proposed policy.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the consultation on GB's deforestation regulations will be published.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the consultation on GB's deforestation regulations will be published.
The Government plans to consult later this year on our aim to introduce an approach that operates alongside the EU Regulation on Deforestation free Products (EUDR). We will seek views from businesses, civil society and international partners on our proposed policy.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that sustainability-linked loans provided by UK banks do not support companies associated with illegal deforestation or environmental harm overseas.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that sustainability-linked loans provided by UK banks do not support companies associated with illegal deforestation or environmental harm overseas.
The Government is committed to maintaining a proportionate sustainable finance framework that supports market integrity and economic growth.
Decisions to provide banking services to individual businesses, including through sustainability-linked lending, are commercial decisions for providers. Firms have strict obligations to ensure the legitimacy of a business and protect against financial crime. The Government is committed to regulating business banking only where there is a clear case for doing so, in order to avoid higher costs for lenders that would ultimately flow through to businesses.
The Government is strengthening its approach to tackling deforestation in UK supply chains and announced in June 2026 that it intends to bring forward new regulations in this area. The Government will then review the regulatory framework for tackling deforestation-linked finance within nine months of those regulations being made.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to scale up peatland restoration, woodland expansion and wetland recovery.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to scale up peatland restoration, woodland expansion and wetland recovery.
This Government is investing over £1 billion in tree planting and support to the forestry sector over this parliament, as well as £85 million between 2026 and 2030 to improve and restore our peatlands, including extending the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme until March 2027.
The Environment Agency's Restoring Meadow, Marsh and Reef (ReMeMaRe) initiative is working to restore at least 15% of saltmarsh, seagrass and native oyster reef habitats along the English coast by 2043.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the locations of (1) the coronation woods, (2) the projects of the coronation living heritage fund, and (3) the micro-woods.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the locations of (1) the coronation woods, (2) the projects of the coronation living heritage fund, and (3) the micro-woods.
The Forestry Commission publishes statistics on new planting of woodland, and trees outside woodland, in England, in the Forestry Commission Key Performance Indicators (copy attached). They plan to publish related geospatial data by the end of 2026-27 on the locations of the new planting wherever considerations such as data quality and data licencing enable this.
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding was spent on micro-woods between 2024 and 2026.
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding was spent on micro-woods between 2024 and 2026.
Defra supported a number of tree planting delivery partners between 2024 and 2026. These partners delivered a range of tree planting. This includes the Coronation Living Heritage Fund. This Fund spent £1.1 million on Miyawaki (micro wood) projects. The funding was distributed to local authority delivery partners in November 2023. The planting of these projects took place between November 2023 and March 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help improve preparation for droughts and wildfires in woods and forests in the context of the recent extreme temperatures.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help improve preparation for droughts and wildfires in woods and forests in the context of the recent extreme temperatures.
The Forestry Commission works with woodland owners and managers to improve resilience to droughts and wildfires through its practice guidance, Lantra accredited training, communications and financial support. The Government funds measures through Countryside Stewardship to improve woodland resilience, including support for fire and fuel breaks and wildfire management. It also supports climate-resilient woodland creation through appropriate species selection, woodland design and long-term management.
Forestry England works closely with Fire and Rescue Services and landowners to prevent and prepare for wildfires through vegetation management, fire and fuel breaks, emergency response planning, weather monitoring and public awareness campaigns, while the Forestry Commission provides advice and communications during periods of high wildfire risk.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support the Government is providing for boreal-like forest protection in the UK, with reference to the national security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support the Government is providing for boreal-like forest protection in the UK, with reference to the national security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security.
The UK Forestry Standard and regulatory frameworks for forestry that apply in all UK administrations ensure that sustainable forest management is practised in all woodlands, with detailed requirements for the protection of biodiversity.