Forests

Mr. Greg Knight
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has for the implementation of the recommendation of the recent report commissioned by the Forestry Commission for an additional four per cent. of the United Kingdom's land to be planted with new woodland.

Huw Irranca-Davies
Forestry is a devolved matter so plans for woodland creation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the respective governments. In England DEFRA and the Forestry Commission are working with key stakeholders to develop a framework to encourage an enhanced woodland creation programme. This work is being undertaken to respond to the potential for woodland creation to deliver emissions abatement as outlined in the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan and to the announcement that 'the Government would support a new drive to encourage private funding for woodland creation'. Progress on this work will be outlined in DEFRA's Climate Change Plan early next year.