Trees are the most powerful, natural tool we have to fight climate change. They deserve our protection

With major woodland expansion needed every year for the next 30 years, this needs to be a long-term commitment from government, writes Darren Moorcroft

The stakes for the England Tree Strategy could scarcely be higher – for all of us (PA)

Trees eat CO2 for breakfast, but they are much more than carbon sponges with bark. They filter the air we breathe, slow flood waters that endanger our homes and provide safe havens for our wildlife. They are our most powerful natural tool to tackle the climate and nature emergencies we all face. So, the government’s plans for the first ever tree strategy for England must work not just for the climate, but for nature and people too.

The stakes for the England Tree Strategy could scarcely be higher – for all of us. We need a plan for an unprecedented expansion in the country’s woodlands – 1.5m hectares of additional woodland, and possibly much more, by 2050 to have a chance of reaching carbon net zero. Where these trees should go, how they are cared for, managed and protected from deadly imported diseases, are also crucial to discuss.

Frankly, the country is a long way from achieving enough woodland expansion. Despite huge interest in trees and woods, last year just 13,000 hectares were planted in the UK, over 80 per cent of which took place in Scotland. By recent standards, this was classed a productive year. In the face of an emergency, it isn’t.