Forestry in Wales

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Forestry in Wales is the practice of planting, managing, and caring for forests in Wales.

Contents

History

The development of afforestation and the production and supply of timber in Wales come under Natural Resources Wales, as set out in the Forestry Act 1967. [1]

In 2013 Natural Resources Wales took over responsibility for Forestry in Wales, [2]

In 2020, the Welsh Government launched a long-term re-forestation plan known as the National Forest for Wales (Welsh : Coedwig Genedlaethol i Gymru). [3]

Management

Natural Resources Wales is a Welsh Government sponsored body, for the management of all the natural resources of Wales. It was formed from a merger of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales, and the Forestry Commission Wales, and also assumes some other roles formerly taken by Welsh Government. [4] Other organisations working in Wales to improve the management of Welsh woodlands and forests include the Confederation of Forest Industries, Coed Cymru [5] and Woodknowledge Wales. [6]

See also

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The United Kingdom, being in the British Isles, is ideal for tree growth, thanks to its mild winters, plentiful rainfall, fertile soil and hill-sheltered topography. In the absence of people, much of Great Britain would be covered with mature oaks, except for Scotland. Although conditions for forestry are good, trees do face damage threats arising from fungi, parasites and pests. The development of afforestation and the production and supply of timber in Wales come under Natural Resources Wales, as set out in the Forestry Act 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forestry in Scotland</span>

Scotland is ideal for tree growth, thanks to its mild winters, plentiful rainfall, fertile soil and hill-sheltered topography. As of 2019 about 18.5% of the country was wooded. Although this figure is well below the European Union (EU) average of 43%, it represents a significant increase compared to the figure of 100 years previously: in 1919 it was estimated that only 5% of the country's total land area was covered in forest. The Scottish Government's Draft Climate Change Plan has set an aim of increasing coverage to 21% of Scotland by 2032, with the rate of afforestation rising to 15,000 hectares per year by 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natural Resources Wales</span> Welsh Government sponsored body

Natural Resources Wales is a Welsh Government sponsored body, which became operational from 1 April 2013, when it took over the management of the natural resources of Wales. It was formed from a merger of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales, and the Forestry Commission Wales, and also assumed some other roles formerly performed by the Welsh Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land use in Wales</span> Overview of land management in Wales

Wales has a surface area of 2,628,779 km2 or 2,077,900 ha. It has a border with England to the east, and is bounded by the Irish Sea to the north and west, and by the Bristol Channel to the south. It has an oceanic temperate climate which is markedly influenced by the North Atlantic Current carrying warm water from tropical latitudes. As a result, it has a much milder climate than most places in the world at similar latitudes. Altitudes range from sea-level to 10985 m on the Snowdon Massif.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolmelynllyn Estate</span> National Trust property in Gwynedd, Wales

Dolmelynllyn Estate is an area of farmland, woodland and parkland near the village of Ganllwyd in southern Gwynedd, Wales. It is owned by the National Trust. The estate was formerly owned by William Madocks, the architect of Porthmadog. Features of the estate include ancient woodland, temperate rainforest, rare lichens and mosses, as well as archaeological features from prehistoric cists to nineteenth-century gold mines. The estate also has 46 bee boles on it, which is the highest concentration in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh devolution</span> Transfer of legislative power to Welsh authorities from UK government

Welsh devolution is the transfer of legislative power for self-governance to Wales by the Government of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Forest for Wales</span> Forestation project

The National Forest for Wales is a long-term forestation programme by the Welsh Government, aiming to form a network of woodland throughout Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celtic rainforests in Wales</span> Temperate rainforests in Wales

There are various areas of temperate rainforests in Wales, also termed a "Celtic rainforest". They are located largely in river valleys, adjacent to the sea, on Wales' western coasts, particularly in Snowdonia (Eryri), Powys and Ceredigion.

References

  1. "Role of Natural Resources Wales". LawWales. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  2. "Welsh Government-Natural Resources Wales". 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  3. "The National Forest for Wales". Wales. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  4. "Welsh Government - Natural Resources Wales". wales.gov.uk. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  5. "Coed Cymru".
  6. "Woodknowledge Wales". Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2019-01-27.