Thank you for contacting me about forests.
I would like to assure you that my ministerial colleagues and I recognise the importance of our woods and forests as invaluable national assets. Trees are vital to help tackle biodiversity loss and climate change, as well as achieve net zero.
In England, the Forestry Commission is responsible for the regulation of tree felling. I understand that woodland managers must apply for a felling licence from the Forestry Commission to fell trees. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is aware of cases where trees have been felled without a licence in place, with some landowners accepting the fines if they are caught and penalised.
In December 2022, Defra introduced measures to crack down on illegal tree felling in England which are now in force. As part of the Environment Act 2021, changes to the Forestry Act 1967 are delivering more proportionate, impactful and enduring enforcement options. These include unlimited fines and, if offenders fail to comply with a Forestry Commission Enforcement Notice and subsequent court-ordered Restocking Order, the possibility of imprisonment. Any Restocking Notices and Enforcement Notices can also be listed on the Local Land Charges Register, making them visible to prospective buyers of the land, which could potentially reduce the land’s value.
I am assured that these robust measures demonstrate the Government’s commitment to protecting our precious trees. More broadly, the England Trees Action Plan 2021 to 2024 sets out the Government's long-term vision for trees, woodlands and forests in England and the actions Ministers will take during this Parliament to achieve their ambition of increasing tree planting rates across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year. The £750 million Nature for Climate Fund will focus on woodland creation and management, as well as peat restoration.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.