 was downgraded from an 'amber' rating by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), which assesses the progress of major Government schemes. It comes as Tory clashes on green issues are proving a headache for Rishi Sunak, with frustrated MPs keen to mitigate the impact of the Government's net zero plans on households already hit hard by the cost of living crisis. The Woodland Trust, the UK's largest woodland conservation charity, warned the current trajectory suggests it is 'extremely unlikely' the Tories will hit their 30,000ha target by 2024-25 when the five-year parliamentary term comes to an end. Nick Phillips, principal forestry policy advocate, said the charity expects planting to rise again next year , but 'radical changes in approach' are needed if the Conservatives are to stand a chance of reaching){kind=link}
Latest statistics show the Government has failed to hit even half of the UK-wide target in any year since 2019
The Tories are set to miss a manifesto tree planting promise, a leading charity has warned, as figures reveal barely any progress has been made towards the goal since the 2019 election.
The Conservatives pledged to plant an extra 30,000 hectares of trees a year by the end of this Parliament as part of their plan to “invest in nature”.
But the latest statistics show the Government has failed to hit even half of the UK-wide target in any year since, with annual rates remaining fairly stagnant at around 13,000 to 14,000ha.
Provisional figures suggest planting actually declined over the past year, dropping below 13,000ha for the first time since 2017-18. Prior to that, levels had fluctuated since the election, reaching a peak in 2021-22.