William Graham AM contribution to the Welsh Forestry Debate - Senedd, 16th June 2009

Future generations will look upon this past decade as being the time when climate change and conserving our natural environment came to prominence as major issues for Governments and citizens in the Western World. With this in mind even though Wales is one of the least wooded countries in Europe it is difficult to overstate the importance of responsibly managing public and private woodlands, maximising their contribution to carbon sequestration and improving economic opportunities in rural areas.

There is much to admire about the Welsh Government’s updated Woodlands for Wales document, particularly that it continues to take a long term view for our woodlands. This is essential when one considers that crucial components of our woodlands, broadleaf trees such as oaks, can live for hundreds of years. There is no room for complacence when it comes to forest management and woodland policies. The strategy’s stated aims such as increasing woodland cover and a commitment to ensuring that ecosystems are healthy and resilient meet with universal approval, yet the Minister will be aware that there is a considerable gulf between the documents stated goals and outcomes delivered in the eight years since its first publication. Broad-leaved woodland has been native in Wales for some 1200 years.

No new planting of Forestry Commission Woodland has been undertaken in the last five years and unthinned woods are all too common sight on those state owned forests that lie out of the public gaze. This raises a number of environmental and economic issues, most notably the issue of whether it is fair that the Welsh Government should continue to own such a large block of commercial woodland, and manage it at a vast subsidy from the Welsh tax payer with inconsistent quality. Nobody questions the importance of the Government or Local Authorities owning woods that lie in urban areas or at the fringes of our towns and cities, but there is little compelling logic for the state to own many of the blocks of coniferous trees that lie in isolated areas of Wales. I would urge your Government to carefully consider its future policy on continuing to own forests that owing to poor management have produced few environmental, social or economic benefits.

Small stands of isolated conifers may be seen throughout Wales often unmanaged with under storey never cleared and an unwelcome sanctuary for vermin. Sales to adjoining owners on strict covenants would encourage the planting of our native broad-leaved species and release capital to be better utilised on other woodland management schemes.

Forest Commission Wales, as an organisation are simply overstretched by the workload the Assembly Government has generated, distracting them from their two core tasks – prudently managing the State’s forest estate and effectively regulating the private sector. It is essential that the Welsh Government takes steps to clarify their role and assist growers in other sectors by clarifying the criteria for grants and reducing bureaucracy.

Private owners deserve the largest share of the credit for many less common varieties and protected species of tree surviving in Wales in to the Twenty First Century. As the statistics quoted in Woodlands for Wales confirm, Welsh farmers have protected our native species and ancient semi-natural woodland and continue to do so. It is they who have acted as guardians of indigenous flora and fauna with little or no reward when Governments, Councils and Businesses have pursued ever more destructive agendas.

Silviculture is the art or science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests to meet diverse needs and values of the many landowners, societies and cultures.

It is imperative that the regulation and support given to people wishing to pursue woodland management projects in Wales is well administered. Better Woodlands for Wales has worthwhile outputs and grants but results of the scheme have been mixed at best.

The single most important factor in the effort to increase softwood use is the supply chain which takes the raw material from the forest to the manufacturer. The organisation’s timber stores at Wentwood near Newport and sponsored by Monmouthshire County Council, Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire and Powys assume a great importance in this process and while Local Authorities have provided support they have been established without the direct assistance of the Welsh Government or Forestry Commission Wales. Perhaps your Government could examine these initiatives as an example of best practice that fits the aspirations of Woodlands for Wales and strengthens the rural economy.

The Welsh Government needs to demonstrate it understands that tree planting and effective woodland management are legitimate ways of carbon-offsetting, and that growing trees is an industry and needs to be financially viable.