THE government has made £50 million available to farmers and land managers to create new woodlands and help tackle the effects of climate change.

The new Woodland Carbon Guarantee will encourage farmers and landowners to plant more trees and create new woodland in return for payments as those trees grow.

It aims to give land managers in England the long-term financial income they need to invest in carbon sequestration.

Successful participants will be offered the option to sell Woodland Carbon Units to the government over 35 years at a guaranteed price set by auction, providing new income for land managers who help businesses compensate for their carbon emissions.

Forestry and climate adaption minister Zac Goldsmith said: “Woodland creation is an excellent way to help combat the effects of climate change.

“By supporting farmers and land managers who decide to invest in tree-planting, we are making sure we tackle climate change through nature-based solutions and – as part of our 25 Year Environment Plan – help leave the environment in a better state than we found it.

“The Woodland Carbon Guarantee means that now – more than ever – there is no reason to delay planting trees.”

Sir Harry Studholme, chair of the Forestry Commission, said: “Creating more woodland is vital in the fight against climate change, and the guarantee provides land managers with long-term certainty of a guaranteed payment rate for carbon, which their trees lock up and store.

“I urge all land managers and owners thinking about planting to look at the scheme and apply for the Woodland Carbon Guarantee ahead of the first auction which will be held early next year.”

To apply for the guarantee visit www.gov.uk/guidance/woodland-carbon-guarantee.