Why are other environmental organizations critical of tree planting for carbon capture and storage?

There is a danger that woodland creation can serve as a distraction to the main task of reducing fossil fuel emissions at source. Many other environmental organizations have raised this concern, and in many cases they are right to do so.

One problem is that most carbon sequestration projects take place in developing nations, where the means to monitor and control activities is often limited by poor transport infrastructure, inadequate resources and in some cases corrupt officials.

The Trust wants supporters of Woodland Carbon to think seriously about their environmental impact and wherever possible to take measures to reduce fossil fuel emissions. Woodland creation is not an alternative to reducing emissions at source, but it can make a useful contribution in adapting to future climate change. The amount of carbon held in UK woods is tiny relative the the national emissions budget as a whole, but the planting of trees and woods plays a significant role in making the landscape more resilient in the face of climate change.

Carbon sequestration projects in other parts of the world have experienced a multitude of problems, many of which centre around their effect on indigenous people. The lack of forest dwelling tribes in the UK means such conflicts are not an issue, although land use needs on such a small, overcrowded part of planet need careful consideration. Achieving the Trust's aim to double native woodland cover in the UK will undo some of the damage that has been done to our landscape in recent decades.

In terms of taking land out of "productive use", we would argue that the amount we are talking about is small relative to the amount of set aside land that has recently been brought back into agricultural use. We are also seeking to work with farmers to integrate trees more into the farmed landscape, rather than being seen as in opposition to the business of food production.

We hope that in time other environmental organizations will soften their stance and move away from ideological dogma towards a more pragmatic, real world position. The UK needs more trees, and the fact they can draw CO2 out of the atmosphere is an extremely good reason to be planting them now.