Item 8 this afternoon is a statement by the Minister for Environment on the woodland strategy. I call on the Minister for Environment, Hannah Blythyn.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I want to set out today some changes to Welsh Government policy for woodlands. It is timely to do so now. The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union brings many challenges, but also provides us with a platform to build on Wales’s reputation for high-quality goods and services, underpinned by resilient natural resources. I want to make sure the forestry sector has clear and up-to-date policies to help them work collectively to meet this challenge. I also want to restate the Welsh Government’s long-term vision for woodlands and their hugely important role in delivering the sustainable management of our natural resources. I have made forestry one of my top priorities and will shortly publish a refresh of our woodlands strategy, 'Woodlands for Wales', a copy of which has been sent to you.

But, first, I would like to pay tribute to Martin Bishop, national manager for Wales of the Confederation of Forest Industries, or Confor, who tragically passed away recently. Martin was a passionate advocate for forestry and made valuable contributions to the woodland strategy over many years. I know his loss has been felt by all who have worked with him and I would like to formally express my deepest sympathies to Martin’s family, friends and colleagues.

Next month, the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs will bring forward proposals for post-Brexit reform that seeks to break down barriers between agriculture and forestry. We are working with a range of stakeholders, including farming unions, environmental bodies and forestry representatives, to deliver sustainable land use after Brexit. 

Our natural resources policy sets out our plans to address the challenges we know that our environment faces. In it, we are clear that Wales needs more woodlands and trees to help us to manage all of our natural resources sustainably. We have not done enough yet to increase woodland creation and so, for the first time, I have brought targets for woodland creation into the strategy. We need both large and small-scale, diverse woodlands that include both conifer and broad-leaved tree species. We must also recognise the importance of increasing the number of trees both in rural and urban environments.

Last year, the Cabinet Secretary accepted the recommendation of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee that we should bring the strategy up to date. The Welsh Government’s woodland strategy advisory panel has refreshed the strategy to make sure it aligns with new legislation. The fundamentals of the vision and the strategy remain the same. Our vision is for high-quality woodlands that provide real benefits to people, to industries and for the environment.

But this strategy is not simply a policy document. It gives practical guidance about the kinds of trees and woodlands we need in Wales and where we need them. It also gives clear direction to woodland managers and ensures that those who manage our woodlands are able to deliver sustainable management for all of our natural resources. It also has a strong link through the UK forestry standard to the certification standards operated by the Forest Stewardship Council and the programme for the endorsement of forest certification for timber and other woodland produce.

The strategy is important, but other actions are required if we are to achieve the aims it sets out. The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee made 13 recommendations and my officials are working to take them forward. In particular, I am determined that those who want to plant trees have certainty about the kinds of woodlands we need, and the places where they can be planted. We want to make it easier to plant the right tree in the right place. The woodland opportunities map is currently being reviewed, and I am meeting forestry standards officials tomorrow to discuss this.

The committee also recommended that we provide more forestry training. In support of this, we are scoping options to develop an employer-led sector cluster, aimed at increasing skills around the forestry sector through a new apprenticeship project. The aim is to create up to 30 new apprentice positions in the Valleys taskforce area during 2019. 

To deliver a skilled, professional workforce across the whole forestry sector we are making use of the knowledge transfer and innovation scheme, to provide funding of over £3.2 million to the Focus on Forestry First training and skills project.

In April, I attended the tenth anniversary of the Welsh Government’s Plant! project. This is an inspiring initiative that had its roots in one young person’s idea—to plant a tree for every child born and adopted in Wales. This idea was taken up by the Welsh Government and has gone from strength to strength. I hope that a tree for every child will empower children to understand how they can do their bit for the environment.

We know that we can only achieve our ambition in this area by working with stakeholders, the public and politicians, and I’d encourage input from all those with an interest in our future forests to come forward with ideas and schemes that will expand our woodlands in Wales. Our ambitions for our people, our communities and our country are best achieved by working together. Today, I reaffirm our vision for forestry and our commitment to act on our ambition for Welsh woodlands.

Can I thank the Minister for her statement today? Can I also associate myself with her comments regarding Martin Bishop, and express my deepest sympathies to his family and friends on behalf of the Welsh Conservatives? 

Whilst I welcome today's statement and the commitments that have been made around woodlands in Wales, it's important to also recognise that Wales is nowhere near the planting rates needed to adequately ensure the sustainability of the sector for the future, particularly compared with our neighbours in other parts of the UK. For some time, the woodland, forestry and agricultural sectors have made it crystal clear that we need to increase woodland cover and plant more trees. Indeed, in giving evidence to the Assembly's Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, Confor made it clear that, so far, woodland creation in Wales has been a catastrophic failure. Therefore, whilst I'm pleased that today's statement confirms the Welsh Government's commitment to plant more trees and set targets for woodland creation, I'd be grateful if the Minister could tell us a bit more about how the Welsh Government intends to bridge the gap caused by historic under-planting, so that Wales can make real progress with this agenda rather than continuing to play catch-up with other parts of the United Kingdom. 

Of course, I accept that there are some barriers to planting, and stakeholders made it clear throughout the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee's inquiry that some of those barriers include issues with the Glastir woodland schemes. National Farmers Union Cymru has made it clear that the process is lengthy and very time-consuming, and often, once approved, there is little time to complete the planting and fencing for the exclusion of livestock. And the Farmers Union of Wales has also said that there is little financial incentive for farmers to plant woodlands. Therefore, can the Minister tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to address these specific concerns, and can she also tell us how the Welsh Government is working with the agricultural industry to encourage more farmers to take up woodland planting given that Welsh farmers play such an important role in enhancing the natural environment?

Now, I'm sure the Minister shares my view that the forestry sector in Wales is a significant part of the Welsh rural economy. Perhaps she could tell us what assessment her officials have made of the creation of Natural Resources Wales in 2013 on the forestry sector and whether she recognises the concerns of some in the industry that the forestry sector's not been given sufficient priority in recent years. 

Now, with an annual output of 500,000 cu m of sawn timber from Welsh forest production, it's clear there's a strong opportunity for adding value and targeting a range of markets in Wales. Given the importance of forestry and timber to the rural economy in terms of both its products and in terms of its jobs, perhaps the Minister could update us on what discussions she's having with local authorities across Wales to better advocate the use of locally produced timber, as Powys has done with the creation of its wood encouragement policy, which is clearly demonstrating its commitment to the further development of the local forest and wood products industry. 

Now, the Government has previously said that, after Britain leaves the European Union, the Welsh Government's new land management policy will centre on public goods and woodlands of great potential in this space, and I wonder if the Minister could today tell us exactly how woodlands will benefit under the new land management policy and what new direction of travel the Minister intends to take on this issue post Brexit. 

Now, the Minister will be aware of the excellent work done by my colleague David Melding on woodland policy, particularly in relation to urban tree cover. I'm pleased that she makes it clear in her statement today that it's important to increase the number of trees both in rural and urban environments. Now, the Welsh Conservatives' 'Liveable Cities' policy document calls for the Government to ensure that minimum of 20 per cent urban tree canopy cover, addressed through local well-being plans and area statements by 2030. It also calls for the introduction of a charter for trees that upholds the protection of our oldest trees. I hope the Minister will join with me in welcoming my colleague's work on this agenda and perhaps in her response she will commit to considering his proposals and working constructively with us on this particular issue.

Therefore, in closing, can I thank the Minister for her statement? I look forward to working with my Assembly colleagues to scrutinise the Welsh Government's progress on its woodland policies as they develop. Diolch. 

The Llywydd took the Chair.

Diolch. Can I thank the Member for his questions and his contribution, and the valuable input you've just made, particularly in terms of referencing your colleague David Melding and all that he's done in this area? Of course, as I made clear in my statement, I think this is something where, if we are going to achieve what we want for Wales, nobody has the monopoly on the good ideas, and that's why it's really important to work with stakeholders. We know that there are opportunities post Brexit in terms of the opportunities for land management and the opportunities that offers in terms of woodland and forestry creation, but are kind of in the short term, and it's actually—. That's why I met with not only the Confederation of Forestry Industries and industry stakeholders, but stakeholders from across the piece—so, of course, from the voluntary sector and from Natural Resources Wales and from Cadw—to look at what the current barriers are. I'll be following that up now with NRW in terms of, actually, how we make it easier in the right way to plant the right trees. I think there's a short-term aspiration in terms of, actually, what the initial barriers are and how we can make changes to encourage greater amounts of tree planting with wholesale further change further down the line post Brexit. 

Both I and my Cabinet colleague the Cabinet Secretary for climate change and rural affairs have made clear that we are nowhere near the targets set in 2010 in terms of the rates that we need to plant. The reality of it is that woodland creation in Wales has not probably changed in much of my lifetime. I think we have to be looking forward now. That's why this document has to be not just a policy document, but about practical and pragmatic solutions to how we go ahead with that. Actually, in terms of looking at Glastir and funding, I've spent quite a bit of time with colleagues speaking to farmers about, actually, what the current barriers are, how they would improve Glastir, how we could make it a more attractive option. I know some of the barriers have been in terms of permanent change and looking at the period of time you've also got to wait for a return on your investment. So, I've spoken about it with colleagues and I've mentioned it to the climate change committee in terms of what they're doing with the sheep and trees project in Scotland. That looks at how they can work with farmers there in terms of encouraging farmers to continue but diversify, and actually the benefits it brings to what they're doing already as well as actually diversifying in terms of woodland creation with, perhaps, better access—it helps them with access to the land. That's looking more at a conifer base, whereas, actually, we want to get that combination in Wales.

Local authorities support locally produced timber. I know my colleague the Minister for housing is following this very closely and, I believe, met with Confor just yesterday to discuss that we're working very closely across Government on that. I was really pleased—because we've got to get the supply and demand right as well to make sure we have the supply to meet the demand and, actually, how we promote the benefits of timber in construction in terms of the economic benefit potentially to the Welsh economy, but also in terms of the environment in terms of actually how we tackle our decarbonisation agenda.

I was pleased to visit a project in Buckley just last week. They're building a number of new flats, and what they've done is they've actually—[Inaudible.]—how, actually, the supply chain has all been contained within Wales. The timber is from Sitka spruce, sourced from forests around Newbridge, near Llandrindod Wells, and the frames were manufactured in Bala, and they're working very closely with Woodknowledge Wales. So, it's things like that we are, basically, working across Government on to ensure that we can take that further going forward.

Just to close, back to your colleague David Melding, I'm more than happy for us to take those discussions collectively going forward. I think there's probably a particular role in terms of when we're looking at urban coverage. We know there are multiple benefits that that brings to our town and city centres and looking at, actually, the role that public service boards and area statements can play in that.

Can I, first of all, associate myself and Plaid Cymru with the remarks that the Minister made regarding Martin Bishop? He will be sorely missed during the Royal Welsh, where he was a very familiar face and had a welcome always to discuss woodland and the environment in Wales.

Can I turn to the statement of the Minister? First of all, just to, of course, reiterate that woodland creation of the right type and in the right place is a really useful tool in fighting climate change—it cleans up our air, it protects against flooding, it shades in urban environments, it improves biodiversity, and benefits the economy and our health and well-being. With all those benefits that woodland can bring, then it's a real pity that we only have about a half of the woodland that we should have in Wales in terms of self-sufficiency in timber, but also in terms of meeting those challenges of climate change and emissions. Our woodland, covering about 15 per cent of the land area, is way below the European average of 37 per cent, and we could certainly almost double the amount of woodland we have in Wales.

What hasn't been mentioned so far in this statement and the questions is an actual target. But, looking at the new strategy published today, it seems that the target for the Welsh Government is continuing to be 2,000 hectares per annum of new woodland from 2022 to 2030 and beyond, but the strategy does acknowledge that that will not be sufficient to meet our legal obligations to reduce emissions 80 per cent by 2050. So, we have a target to 2030 that's not sufficient to meet our long-term obligations, plus we have this wonderful benefit of woodland creation that is also missing and we have the reality, which was identified by the climate change committee, that Government had only delivered on 10 per cent of its woodland creation target to date. So, can the Minister just set out and confirm what the targets are for the next decade and how she intends to build on those having accepted in the strategy that they will not be sufficient, in fact, to meet our climate change obligations? The strategy does say that little has changed in 30 years, and that's the truth of it.

Can she also say whether she's had the opportunity to revise the draft 'Planning Policy Wales' statement, which did seem to weaken protection for ancient woodlands in particular, and which I know has been raised by several Members here in the Assembly, and the Government, as I recall, said they would look back at the draft 'Planning Policy Wales' statement to make sure there was no indication of a diminution of protection for ancient woodlands. So, can she please provide the Assembly with assurances there would be no weakening?

And finally, can she talk us through how she would intend to ensure that the 40 per cent of existing woodland, which, according to 'State of Natural Resources Report', has little or no management currently, will be managed going forward? Is this a task for Natural Resources Wales? Is it simply going to be left to private owners? Or will there be a woodland management scheme that will be more comprehensive and supportive in Wales as we move to increase our self-sufficiency in timber, both for supporting our own industries and also reducing imports and the economic and environmental costs of import, and as we move also to increasing woodland, which I think we'd all like to see as part of our response to climate change and the environment?

Diolch. I thank the Member for his contribution. You're spot on in terms of starting your contribution by highlighting the multiple benefits that woodland creation and green infrastructure bring both in our rural and urban communities. They not only bring environmental benefits, but they make our environment a much more pleasant place to be, particularly in an urban area, and it obviously has productive and economic benefits, and health benefits as well.

If I clarify first in terms of targets, the strategy itself says woodland cover to increase by at least 2,000 hectares per annum. That's in line with the UK's Climate Change Committee's recommendations. However, we have acknowledged that's not enough to deliver the share—the 80 per cent reduction—so we are ambitious to put in place measures to achieve 4,000 hectares a year if we can to meet that. So, it is a minimum, at least, floor. If you look at now, we're looking, on average, at 100 hectares per year. That is significantly more, but I'm clear that is at least, and that is the minimum floor in terms of what we need to do to achieve the change, to meet those obligations in the future and to go further still.

I'll turn perhaps to ancient woodlands and veteran trees. I acknowledge there's been concern by those in the sector, and across the community, in terms of—it's fair to say it generated a significant level of response, raising concerns that the wording choices in 'Planning Policy Wales' do not afford the level of protection that should be given to ancient, veteran and heritage trees. I just want to make clear there is absolutely no intention to weaken the protection afforded to ancient, veteran and heritage trees in 'Planning Policy Wales'. Obviously, all consultation responses were duly considered, as they would be, but I think particular wording choices such as 'often have', 'should be', 'every effort', technically, in the context of a planning scenario, do carry weight, but language choices are something that we can clearly reconsider as part of the response to the consultation exercise, and hopefully offer some reassurance that I have absolutely no intention to weaken the protection afforded to our so cherished ancient, veteran and heritage trees.

Firstly, I would like to pay tribute to Martin Bishop, the national manager of Confor, who tragically passed away recently, on behalf of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, a committee he worked very closely with, and we were always impressed by both his knowledge and enthusiasm for all things to do with trees.

Can I welcome the Minister's restating the Welsh Government's long-term vision for woodlands and their hugely important role in delivering the sustainable management of our natural resources? I agree that Wales needs more woodlands and trees to help us manage all our natural resources sustainably. In fact, I don't think anybody in this room is going to say we don't need more woodlands and trees to help us manage our natural resources sustainably. But we have not done enough yet to increase woodland creation, so I welcome, for the first time, we have targets for woodland creation in the strategy.

I am pleased that, last year, the Cabinet Secretary accepted the recommendation of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee that we should bring the strategy up to date. I'm also pleased that Welsh Government officials are working to take forward the 13 recommendations made by the committee.

I think that we're all in favour of more trees and we're all very happy having numbers. How are we going to get there? I think that really is the challenge. Does the Minister agree with me that we need to increase the tree coverage in urban areas using appropriate trees and we need to set targets on that? We need to set targets by local authority on that, because, unless we start setting targets that you can drill down into—saying, 'We need an extra 10,000 trees in Wales' is one thing, telling Swansea council they need an extra 1,000 trees is something entirely different and something for which they can be held to account. Does the Minister also agree that we need to set five-year targets for each local authority area for tree planting similar to the way we set the LDP for housing, where, under an LDP, we say, 'This much land must be made available for housing'? Why can't we do the same for trees? Otherwise, we spend a lot of our time having numbers on an all-Wales basis. We spend a lot of our time talking about how we need to get there, but we seem to have a lack of plan on a place-by-place basis of how we're going to get there. And, when we inevitably fail to make the numbers, then everybody blames you, Cabinet Minister, in the first instance, but I think we all deserve some of the blame, because unless we start building it down to, 'You, in local authorities, or you, this area, have to achieve this', then everybody will just say, 'It's up to somebody else'.

Diolch, thank you to Mike Hedges for that. You absolutely hit the nail on the head there by saying that where there is consensus and we're all in agreement—and you'd be hard-pressed to find somebody who would disagree that it's a positive thing to plant more trees and that it's something we need to do—but the key thing is how do we get to there. I think you make some really valid and thoughtful contributions in terms of, actually—. I perhaps wouldn't, maybe, use the phrase, 'take the blame'; I think, as you say, perhaps it's for all of us, the onus is on all of us, to press for this and press our own local authorities, as well as myself doing this as the Minister for Environment. But I think you raise some really interesting points in terms of looking at things on a place-by-place basis—so, we know that each urban area in Wales has different needs and priorities—and making sure that we work with local authorities. I'm keen, as I said, to take that forward with Natural Resources Wales through area statements to make sure that they align both with the priorities in terms of green infrastructure and woodland creation, but also in terms of the value of our biodiversity, and making sure that it aligns, obviously, with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. So, it's something that—yes, to look at a place-by-place approach I think is the best approach, going forward.

I'm just going to focus on one area and that's going to be the urban tree cover in towns and cities, and support that urban tree management. We all know, don't we, that trees are a valuable habitat for wildlife and pollinators, that they help reduce air pollution, urban flooding and surface temperatures—which would be welcome today—all of which are hugely important to the health and well-being of people living in towns and cities. I'm sure that people in this room who think likewise will share my concerns about Sheffield City Council felling huge numbers of healthy trees in their area.

Now, we know that there is 17 per cent urban tree cover and that we need to do something about that. I'm going to ask you, Minister, if you would have a conversation with the Cabinet Secretary responsible for planning so that, when we try to meet our 20,000 new homes target by 2021, we don't go in, simply, to a greenfield site, strip everything out of it, build houses and try to put a bit of grass back or maybe a shrub here and there to satisfy ourselves. Because it doesn't satisfy ourselves. I think we need some radical thinking here when we're talking about building homes, whilst, at the same time, trying to maintain habitats that are there already, rather than—and we've heard it mentioned today—thinking about large-scale devastation, in my opinion, of the urban environment simply to make it easier and cheaper for people to build houses and maximise their profit. 

I thank Joyce Watson for her contribution there, again reiterating not just the benefits that urban green spaces and woodland bring, but, actually, I think it's that sense of—particularly if you live in an area where it's probably a significant journey to go to actually visit somewhere, a large forest, those woodlands 10 minutes from your doorstep just make a significant difference. There's a really clear emotional attachment to that. I think I've already used the example of Wepre Woods, which is just next door to my constituency now, but the one that brought multiple benefits to me, my family and friends when I was growing up, and I know that we want to make sure that we preserve that for future generations as well.

In terms of planning, it's absolutely, you know—. We're looking at things holistically and cross-Government and in line with the well-being of future generations Act, and we need to make sure that we are working together and things are aligned. In the refreshed strategy, on page 11, in terms of saying what we want to happen, it does say that

'when permanent removal of woodland is permitted for development, the losses in public benefit are offset by compensatory planting and this is reflected in planning policy'.

However, I'm keen to make sure that green infrastructure is taken into account and to work with my colleagues across Government on that. 'Planning Policy Wales' has recently been updated to reflect the well-being of future generations Act, and includes new policy in relation to green infrastructure and new developments, so it's something that we'll be working closely on to see that come to fruition in practice. 

Thank you for your statement, Minister. I'm glad you've reiterated that forestry is one of your top priorities. Urban trees hold historical and cultural significance, and there's no doubt that, without trees, our urban environments would be very different places. The physical and mental health benefits to people of trees in urban areas are well documented. The Woodland Trust highlights the benefits of people exercising more and feeling better around trees. Urban trees are critical to human health and well-being. Trees provide shade, absorb carbon dioxide, filter air pollution, mitigate floods and provide habitats for wildlife and plants. Urban trees are particularly effective at absorbing carbon dioxide.

It's important that we find ways to value trees more effectively, to build more sustainable and liveable urban areas. New research at University College London found that urban green zones absorb as much carbon dioxide as rainforests. They conducted a study of 85,000 trees in north London to show the importance of planting and protecting urban forests to offset fossil fuel emissions, and I hope the Minister will look into this study and see how Wales can learn from this research. 

The Welsh Government's Plant! scheme has been successful, and initiatives like this must continue. I understand that many trees that were planted in Caerleon in my constituency during the 1970s were done so during a campaign for 'Plant a Tree in '73', and, the following year, 'Plant Some More in '74'. However, we've got a lot of ground to make up, and there's no doubt that more must be done, particularly around new housing developments, as Joyce Watson has said, and infrastructure. As the Minister said, it's really important that we're planting the right trees in the right places. 

The city of Newport is fortunate to have large areas of green space that people can easily access, and award-winning parks such as Belle Vue Park, Tredegar Park and Beechwood Park. In addition, Wentwood forest is on our doorstep, and is part of the largest block of ancient woodland within Wales, with a recorded history spanning over 1,000 years. The network of woodland paths, including downhill mountain bike trails, is very popular and well-loved. However, there's more to do to ensure the local community, especially young people, can access this. In our 'Branching out' report last year, the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee recognised the work that local woodland groups are doing in protecting our urban green spaces and making them more accessible. One such group in my constituency is the Bassaleg Community Woodland Trust, which is made up of local volunteers. It's crucial that community groups, NRW, local authorities and private landowners work together to pursue woodland enterprise opportunities and support community ownership of woodlands. 

The social benefit of woodlands was a main theme in the 'Branching out' report, and I'm glad the strategy recognises the role urban woodlands can play in community cohesion. So, with this in mind, Minister, what can the Welsh Government do to support existing groups, such as the one in Bassaleg, and encourage similar ones to form to ensure that more of our green spaces can be enjoyed by our urban communities?  

I thank the Member for her contribution. I quite like that—'Plant A Tree in '73', 'Plant Some More in '74'. Perhaps we need to get ourselves some contemporary slogans to go with the woodlands strategy. I could be tempting fate by inviting contributions on that one, though. 

You're right in terms of, actually, the importance of finding ways to value trees, and I'll definitely look into the King's College report that you mentioned; it sounds very interesting. I didn't know, but we actually do have rainforests in Wales as well. But, in terms of ways to value trees, I recently spoke at a Fields in Trust event, and what was really significant about that was that they placed—. We know the value of trees is the environmental, the social and the health and well-being and the broader multiple benefits they bring, but they'd actually contextualised it to say, actually, 'If you take this park away or if you take this green space away, it has this economic value to the community and the wider area'. I think it's really important that we are able to encapsulate that in a broader sense to really, really hit home to people the value that our green spaces and woodlands have. 

Community woodland plays a vital part, which is why Welsh Government has things like the co-operative woodlands scheme, and working with Llais y Goedwig and the community network liaison to support community projects, and ownership in the sense of, actually—people feel an ownership, anyway, of the woodland near them or the green space, but actually ownership in the more literal sense. And it's access for young people, the Plant! project, for example, and I'm pleased that the strategy just emphasised the role that woodlands and green space, forest, play in terms of education, because I don't think you can underestimate that, for some children, getting them outside in a forest school, taking part in eco-schools, you see a complete change and the opportunities that brings. So, that's also something I'm keen to explore with my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Education in terms of, actually, that can be aligned in terms of the new curriculum going forward and how actually we can make sure from a younger age—and sustain that into secondary school too—more young people not only benefit from our green spaces and woodland, but also, actually, potentially have an opportunity through that to develop skills and a future career pathway as well. 

Thank you, Minister.