GOVERNMENT ministers have reaffirmed their commitment to planting 30,000 hectares of new woodland every year in the UK - despite a scathing reporting finding it will be a "steep climb" to do so. 

A cross-party group of MPs today accused officials of a “lack of focus” and said they need “a comprehensive plan to support greater planting” or else they will fail to hit annual goals of 7,500 ha. 

In the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee report, they called on ministers to consider carefully where trees are planted - "the right tree in the right place" - while demanding more be done to increase the UK's volume of homegrown timber and reduce its reliance on imports.

Forestry Journal: The report called on more to be done to increase the UK's use of homegrown timber The report called on more to be done to increase the UK's use of homegrown timber (Image: FJ/stock)

Currently 80 per cent of all wood used in the country comes from abroad.  

EFRA tree planting report 2022: UK Government criticised for 'lack of focus' and push for homegrown timber

Industry body Confor was among those to respond to the report by criticising ministers and calling for an England-specific tree planting target to be created, but Environment Secretary, George Eustice, has insisted the goals are achievable. 

He said: “We have stretching and ambitious targets when it comes to tree planting, and just last year we launched the England Trees Action Plan.

"We are committed to planting 30,000 hectares of new woodland every year in the UK by the end of this Parliament, backed up by over £500m of funding.

Forestry Journal: Stuart Goodall called for more to be done Stuart Goodall called for more to be done

"Last week, I announced that we will be consulting on a target to increase woodland cover and tree canopy cover outside woodlands from 14.5 per cent to 17.5 per cent of total land area in England by 2050.”

Other findings in the EFRA report, compiled with cross-sector input, included: 

  • That it was unclear if enough funding had been allocated to hit tree planting targets 
  • More work must be done with the UK's nurseries to increase production 
  • Urgent action is needed to address the country's impending skills shortage 

Responding earlier today, Confor's chief executive, Stuart Goodall, said: "This report says the UK Government must ‘get its act together’ on tree planting - and the industry agrees.

READ MORE: All Party Parliamentary Group on Forestry and Tree Planting: Decline of England's productive forestry dominates discussion

“The Westminster Government must set a specific target for England, not hide behind a UK target that shares responsibility with the devolved administrations, which were not consulted on the UK target in the first place.”