'Seeing the wood for the trees': How the government came to meet just half its tree planting target

clock • 6 min read
Credit: iStock
Image:

Credit: iStock

New report from the Environmental Audit Committee argues woodland creation is essential for the UK to meet net zero goals and respond to demand for sustainable timber - but the government is still falling far short of its own targets

It is "extremely unlikely" the government will meet its target of planting 30,000 hectares of woodland by March 2025, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has today warned, putting both the UK's net...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Biodiversity

RSPB's Katie Wakefield: 'We need more diversification in the environmental sector'

RSPB's Katie Wakefield: 'We need more diversification in the environmental sector'

Bird and wildlife charity's head of business engagement explores the role of 'powerful stories' in conservation, but how nature doesn’t have the same public narrative as climate - yet

Stuart Stone
clock 13 January 2026 • 9 min read
National Trust: Record £10m donation offers 'huge' nature restoration boost

National Trust: Record £10m donation offers 'huge' nature restoration boost

Biggest cash donation in charity’s 131-year history is set to support efforts to restore habitats and tackle unequal access to nature in 2026

Stuart Stone
clock 13 January 2026 • 2 min read
NAO: 'Complex and outdated' regulations mean just nine of 43 nature targets likely to be met

NAO: 'Complex and outdated' regulations mean just nine of 43 nature targets likely to be met

Overly cautious culture within Defra, Environment Agency, and Natural England has restricted attempts to embrace new approaches for nature recovery, spending watchdog claims

Stuart Stone
clock 09 January 2026 • 6 min read