Here you will find our response to the consultation on the Timber Industrial Strategy (Wales) (closed 16th April 2025).

This response was developed by our Wales Policy Group.

Key points are:

• A national framework should be developed in order to guide what planting is most appropriate and beneficial.
• Growth of the timber industry in Wales should contribute to delivery of the tree planting targets set out by the Climate Change Commission.
• We support delivery of woodland creation through the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
• Empower landowners to capitalise on the benefits of sustainable woodland management.
• The timber strategy should ensure active management of existing woodland, as well as woodland creation.
• There should be no perverse incentives to meet short term timber targets by clear-felling woodland.
• The principle of “right tree in the right place” is key to resilience should underlie the timber strategy.
• Ensure rigorous application of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
• Ensure that EIAs pay careful attention to soil composition by ensuring that sampling is done on a sufficient scale across the whole site.
• Require mixed native broadleaf planting, shrub cover and open land to be interspersed throughout commercial monoculture planting.
• Plans for timber plantations should also seek opportunities for native planting along watercourses and, where appropriate, through natural regeneration so as to bolster local resilience, confer ecosystem services to local communities, and further contribute to tree planting targets, as well as nature networks.
• Any supporting infrastructure (e.g. forest roads) must take account of habitats which support ecosystem services, including biodiversity and nature networks, thus mitigating the impact of forestry on ecosystem resilience.
• Proposed schemes should explain how the spread of invasive tree seed to adjoining land (especially peatland) will be prevented.
• Improve awareness of careers in forestry and ecology and improve access to training.