Woodlands for Wales

The Woodlands for Wales action plan which (which was launched on 3rd March) sets out how, over the next five years, the Plaid driven One Wales government and its partners will work towards achieving the outcomes of Woodlands for Wales, the 50 year strategy for trees and woodlands. It sets out a 50 year strategy for trees and woodlands, this is a welcome development seeks to encourage the use of trees to help control flooding, this will mean introducing more trees to urban environments – where they can provide shade and improve drainage, as well as a making our towns and communities more attractive places to live and work in.

The strategy aims to increase the demand for timber and other woodland products. This is important because an increase in demand for timber will sustain and expand our forest industry and business sector and help make a valid contribution to our economy and could help to provide our hard pressed farmers with an alternative income stream. The strategy also highlights the use of wood as fuel and timber as a replacement to more energy-intensive materials like steel and concrete, which will help reduce the country’s carbon footprint as trees can store carbon for hundreds of years or more.

What makes our woodlands and trees particularly useful is that they can provide many of these services all at the same time. Through the plans actions, the Plaid driven One Wales Government aims to increase the woodland cover of Wales and to increase the range of tree species in those woodlands, making them more resilient to climate change. Our local woodlands have so much to offer with opportunities for enjoying recreation, improving health and well being, learning and developing skills, supporting small business and developing local communities.

The Woodlands for Wales strategy has recognised how important woodlands and trees are in helping to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits and that they can help with tackling climate change. The action plan was developed by Forestry Commission Wales on behalf of the Plaid driven One Wales Government and highlights the use of wood as fuel and timber as a replacement to more energy-intensive materials like steel and concrete, which will help reduce the country’s carbon footprint as trees can store carbon for hundreds of years or more.

The key here is long term; it makes such a difference to have a minister of the caliber of Elin Jones (AM), who as Plaid Minister for Rural Affairs has the confidence and strength to make long term decisions. And makes no bones about it, this is an ambitious long term strategy which recognises that Welsh woodlands and trees can deliver more benefits through taking bold actions. Our woodlands and trees not only provide the more obvious products such as timber or sites for recreational activities but also the less obvious services such as addressing the effects of climate change and protecting soil and water resources.