UK TreePlanting Taskforce 'could boost private sector confidence'

The Taskforce, chaired by the forestry ministers from the four nations, brings together representatives from key arm’s-length bodies and delivery partners to oversee the planting of millions of trees. 

A commitment made by the Labour Government, it is designed to strengthen collaborative working across the UK, identifying opportunities to work together, to improve tree planting and ensure the long-term survival of woodland, safeguarding their benefits for future generations.

WANT MORE LIKE THIS? 

• Government launches new Tree Planting Taskforce
• 'Disappointing' Scottish Budget favours native woodland over conifers
• Independent forestry firm purchased by major player

Confor chief executive Stuart Goodall represented the private forestry and wood processing sector at its first meeting last week. 

“Delivering increased woodland creation will rely on a wide range of businesses in the industry, from tree nurseries to tree planters," he said. “Confor members have real-life experience in how to make woodland creation work, from planning to the point of planting the trees in the ground.”

A range of issues were discussed, including skills and industry recruitment, and Stuart highlighted the need to engender confidence in the industry.

He added: “Increased woodland creation targets won’t be met without a bigger and stronger private sector, and that requires industry confidence to invest and to recruit.

“The key requirements for securing that confidence include: strong and repeated political commitment to woodland creation; sufficient, secure and multi-year grant funding; a suitably resourced public sector; and a settled operating environment i.e. avoiding frequent change to policy, rules and standards.

Stuart Goodall welcomed the launch of the Taskforce

“If there is greater confidence in the private sector, then businesses will be more likely to invest in attracting and training people.”

Increased confidence will also be key to attracting the green financial investment that governments want to see to supplement public funding.

In the meeting, Stuart noted that Confor has delivered important taster events and worked with armed forces leavers in an initiative supported by Scottish Forestry and Forestry Commission.

Laying down the challenge for the Taskforce, England's forestry minister Mary Creagh said: “Trees deliver huge social, environmental and economic benefits – from absorbing carbon dioxide, cooling our cities, improving wellbeing and helping reduce NHS costs, while a thriving forestry sector supports green jobs and drives economic growth.”

Richard Stanford, chair of the Forestry Commission, said last week: “There has never been a more crucial time to take action to increase and improve the number of trees, woods and forests growing across the UK for future years. It is vital that our four nations unite and work in partnership on this mission."