3. Statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs: Welsh Government Support for Forestry in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:30 pm on 12 March 2019.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 3:30, 12 March 2019

Thank you, David Rees, for those questions. I'm very aware of the area in your constituency that has lost a significant number of trees due to disease, and I mentioned in an earlier answer that I know NRW, through my discussions with the chief executive, have some significant—. I think they're over there; I think they keep about 4 per cent of land available for forestry, and I think they're running at 4.75 per cent at the current time, and that's why I'm looking to see if I can give them some additional funding, because, clearly, everybody's budgets are under pressure. So, I would very much like to see if I could support them to do some reforestation in the very near future.

I am aware of the leisure development that's been proposed in your constituency. I know my officials are working closely with Neath Port Talbot local authority in relation to that. NRW has a timber marketing plan, which runs from the period of 2017 to 2022, and that explains their approach to the harvesting and marketing of timber from the Welsh Government woodland estate. They will continue to supply timber in line with that plan, and I'd be very happy to ask them to look at the point you raised.