The UK is on track to miss its tree planting targets by an area the size of Portsmouth by 2030 according to a new analysis across the UK. Whilst England and Scotland are largely on track to meet targets, other regions are increasingly falling.

England is projected to achieve 94 per cent of its national target, and Scotland is projected to achieve 74 per cent of its national target and 98 per cent of the Committee on Climate Change's (CCC) recommended tree planting rates by 2030 based on current trends. However, Wales is projected to achieve only 27 per cent, and Northern Ireland 48 per cent.

Trees can play an important role by providing shade and helping rainfall soak into the ground rather than flowing overland, reducing flood risk, And, of course, they suck carbon out of the atmosphere as they grow, a natural CCUS centre.

With over 70 per cent of targeted carbon removal between now and 2050 set to come from trees planted in the next five years, the analysis underlines the critical window that exists for woodland creation to contribute to climate targets. The cumulative shortfall of approximately 4,000 hectares by 2030 represents not just missed planting, but foregone carbon removal that cannot be easily recovered.

Tom Cantillon, senior analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit(ECIU) said, “The divergence between nations’ performance is striking. England and Scotland are roughly on track, but Wales and Northern Ireland have further to go. All will need a step change in ambition to ensure their targets are reached.”

Research points to policy uncertainty and the economics of land-use change as key factors behind the planting gap. The CCC has noted that woodland creation has "high upfront costs and uncertain and/or long payback periods”. Woodland creation is a permanent land use change, yet the policy and funding environment has historically been subject to more frequent revision than woodland and forestry timescales demand.

---