Conservation groups and climate experts have warned that Wales is not planting enough trees to meet its climate targets, raising concerns that future generations could pay the price. While the number of trees being planted has increased in recent years, experts say progress remains far below what is needed to tackle climate change, reduce flooding, and achieve net zero emissions.
The warning comes as campaigners argue that complicated regulations and bureaucracy make it easier to remove existing woodlands than to establish new forests. They are calling for simpler policies, long term funding, and greater support for landowners to expand tree cover across the country.
Tree Planting Falling Well Short of Climate Targets
According to analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), Wales is on track to achieve only about 10% of its government tree planting target by 2030 under its Carbon Budget 2 plan. Based on recommendations from the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC), Wales is expected to meet only around 27% of the advised planting levels by the end of the decade.
The report also shows that other parts of the United Kingdom are making faster progress. Scotland is projected to achieve around 74% of its government target and almost all of the CCC’s recommended level, while Northern Ireland is expected to reach about 48% of both its government target and CCC advice.
Tom Cantillon, Senior Analyst at the ECIU, warned that planting too few trees today will make it much harder to reach future climate goals because newly planted forests need many years before they can absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Experts Call for Simpler Rules and Long-Term Investment
The Woodland Trust says forests are one of the most effective natural solutions for tackling climate change. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, reduce flood risks, improve biodiversity, and provide cooler environments during increasingly frequent heatwaves.
Chris Matts, the Woodland Trust’s Site Manager for South and West Wales, said the current system creates unnecessary obstacles for new woodland projects. He argued that it is currently much easier to cut down woodland than to establish new forests, adding that tree planting should work alongside farming rather than compete with it.
The issue gained attention after the Welsh Government withdrew plans that would have required farmers to maintain 10% tree cover on their land to qualify for support under the Sustainable Farming Scheme, following widespread protests.
Local volunteers also highlighted the wider community benefits of planting trees. Keith Roberts, who helps maintain woodland in Neath, said new forests strengthen local flood protection while creating healthier environments for future generations.
Industry groups have described the current pace of tree planting as a failure to protect future generations and warned that more forests are essential for creating green jobs, producing sustainable building materials, and supporting national climate ambitions.
The Welsh Government said official statistics do not capture every tree planted across the country and reaffirmed its commitment to increasing tree cover. Officials said they will continue working with public sector organisations to expand woodland and improve canopy cover across Wales in the coming years.