Opinion: Tree-planting will benefit famers and climate

Securing the sustainable production of food on our farms for the future is one of my priorities.

Climate change threatens this, and the actions we all take can help deal with the effects of this emergency. Tree planting is, therefore, an important topic of discussion when I meet farmers.

See also: New Welsh farm support scheme majors on tree planting

An increase in tree numbers in Wales will positively affect climate change by taking greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere through carbon storage.

We want to see 43,000ha of new woodland in Wales by 2030. This is not an alternative to reducing emissions, but something we need to do alongside emissions reduction.

Last year, I published our Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) proposals, followed by a farmer co-design exercise.

The proposals include a “universal action” for farms to have 10% tree cover. Existing woodland and woodland planted before entering the SFS would count towards this – farmers would not need to plant an additional 10%.

Food production

I often see the premise that tree planting will be at the expense of producing food. That’s not the case.

Sustainably producing food and addressing the climate emergency are not competing objectives. Failure to deal with one will affect the other.

We want to work with farmers on the principle of “the right tree in the right place”. Planting trees can also become an asset over time – such as by providing shelter for livestock.

Put simply, if we don’t take action now, the food delivered by farms, which we rely on, will become more difficult to produce in the years to come because of climate change.

So it’s in all our interests to work together to achieve our collective goals.

The tree-planting action should not be considered in isolation – it is part of a set of universal actions designed to improve all-round sustainability for farm businesses. Other actions such as benchmarking, soil testing and animal health improvements are all intended to improve farm efficiency.     

The Welsh government has been investing more money into woodland creation in recent years and we are starting to see results.

We need to see the upward trajectory continue and £30m funding is available over the next two years through our Woodland Creation Grants for large and small woodlands.

There is also the option of applying to the Woodland Investment Grant, which provides funding to create infrastructure to support public access, such as footpaths, and can be blended with the grants for tree planting.

Ambition

I understand the level of tree planting needed is ambitious, but if we all do our bit, with some doing more if they want to, then it can be achievable.

By choosing to plant woodland now, farmers won’t risk their eligibility for the SFS, and planting early may make transition into the scheme easier. 

I have always said working collaboratively with farmers is key to successful outcomes in Wales.

I want us to reach our targets by working with farmers and local communities – rather than having outside investors buying up farmland to plant trees.

Working with the farming community is also part of our co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru.

Funding is available and I encourage farms throughout Wales to take advantage of the support now so we can all play our part in tackling the nature and climate emergencies, and help secure the sustainable future for the industry.