With the Northern Ireland Assembly elections on the horizon (5 May), the Woodland Trust is asking candidates and members of the public to put the environment high on their agenda.
The Trust’s new manifesto calls upon all political parties to commit to expanding, promoting and protecting our native woodland heritage.
At the same time, the conservation charity is asking voters to lend their support by checking out the green credentials of their prospective MLAs. Should candidates call on your doorstep, take the opportunity to enquire about their policies on expanding and protecting our limited woodland resource.
Woods and trees matter to everyone. However, Northern Ireland remains one of the least wooded regions in Europe, with just over 6 per cent woodland cover compared to the European average of 44 per cent. According to the conservation charity, a marked increase in tree planting is essential if Northern Ireland is to tackle challenges such as climate change and wildlife loss.
Patrick Cregg, the Woodland Trust’s director, says: “By putting woodland creation high on the agenda, our politicians can deliver on so many priorities simultaneously. Trees aid productive agriculture, improve public health – both physical and mental, while enhancing places where we live and work.
“The Northern Ireland Executive has a commitment to double woodland cover over the next 50 years. While this is a necessary and welcome objective, its achievement would require more than trebling the current rate of tree planting.”
The Trust’s manifesto calls upon political parties to commit to the following actions:
1. Bring the public, private and voluntary sectors into partnership to deliver on the Northern Ireland Executive's commitment to double woodland cover in the next 50 years.
2. Ensure that incentives are targeted in a way that makes it simple for the public and private sectors to plant trees.
3. Use the powers in the Forestry Act 2010 to empower Forest Service to champion woodland creation both within its own estate and in partnership with private and voluntary organisations.
4. Enforce the powers in the Forestry Act to ensure that there is no net loss of area of ancient and long-established woodland in Northern Ireland.
5. Provide planning guidance that aids the creation of new native woods within walking distance of residential areas and protects Northern Ireland’s woodland heritage.
For more information, including a copy of the Trust’s manifesto, visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/elections
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
Kaye Coates at the Woodland Trust’s Bangor Office on 028 9127 5787; email kayecoates@woodlandtrust.org.uk or
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121; email media@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.
Here in Northern Ireland the Woodland Trust cares for 51 woods. These woods contain a mix of recently planted woodland, mature woodland and ancient woodland (that’s land continuously wooded since at least 1600). We have recently produced the first-ever comprehensive record of Northern Ireland’s ancient woodland; find out more at www.backonthemap.org.uk