Woodlands for Wales – our strategy for Welsh woodlands and trees

The Welsh Government Woodlands for Wales strategy sets out our 50 year plan for developing and using Welsh woodlands and trees to bring maximum benefit to the people of Wales.

Woodlands for Wales outlines:

• how we could increase the woodland cover in Welsh  towns and cities
• how we could make our woodlands much more diverse by planting a wider range of tree species that are more resilient to the changing climate

Our Woodlands for Wales  strategy has four key themes. These are:

• Responding to climate change
  The effects of climate change can be eased by woodlands and trees. The strategy sets out ambitious plans to help Wales reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
   
• Woodlands for people
  Woodlands provide a wide range of opportunities for people from all walks of life to enjoy their woodlands as places of recreation and learning out of doors. Woodlands are excellent places to become more active and healthier. They can be ideal locations to develop community projects.
   
• A competitive and integrated forest sector
  The strategy sets out how we can develop innovative and skilled industries and maintain levels of timber production in line with the Welsh Governments efforts to promote and increase demand for this renewable resource.
   
• Environmental quality
  The development of our woodlands and trees will also help us to make a positive contribution to biodiversity, landscapes and heritage. It will assist us in reducing other environmental pressures.

Our work to increase Wales’ woodland cover links in with the commitment to create a Welsh national forest of native trees that would act as a carbon sink. Our innovative Plant! project,  which ensures that a new tree is planted for every child born or adopted in Wales, is one of the ways in which we are working to achieve this.  

Woodlands for Wales Action Plan

The Woodlands for Wales Action Plan (Revised in March 2012) sets out what needs to happen over the next five years to make progress towards achieving the outcomes of Woodlands for Wales, the Welsh Government's 50 year strategy for trees and woodlands.

The Welsh Government Forestry Policy will provide you with further background and evidence for the outcomes sought in our Woodlands for Wales strategy.

Government Woodland Estate Research Project

In the Foreword to Woodlands for Wales, Elin Jones (Minister for Rural Affairs), commissioned a study into the role of the publicly owned woodland in delivering the strategy. We took this forward in the form of a Research Project during 2010 and a summary of the main findings can be found below.

Woodlands for Wales Indicators

The Woodlands for Wales Indicators were Revised in June 2012. They set out the indicators we are using to measure progress towards achieving the 20 high level outcomes set out in Woodlands for Wales.

23 indicators are described, corresponding to the list found on pages 54 and 55 in Woodlands for Wales. We are able to fully report on some of the indicators, others are still under development. Where possible, indicators have been developed so that trends can be followed for the full 50-year lifespan of Woodlands for Wales. We will be regularly updating this report.