MAYOR JARVIS: PLANT THE NORTHERN FOREST TO REACH NET ZERO AND PREVENT FLOODING

Published 16 December 2020 at 2:51pm

The Government’s National Tree Strategy for England must prioritise planting trees  to help in the fight against the Climate Emergency, improve access to nature in the North and protect homes and businesses in South Yorkshire from floods, Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis has told Parliament.

Leading a debate in Parliament today, he urged Government to back the growth of the Northern Forest, a 120-mile woodland that will connect Liverpool, Manchester and Lancaster to the West and Sheffield, Leeds and Hull to the East, benefiting 13 million residents and generating £2.5 billion in social, economic, and environmental benefits. 50 million trees will be planted over the next 25 years, with more than 2.1 million already in the ground.

The Mayor is also calling for new national targets for tree-planting to drive the country’s transition to net zero and for all Metro Mayors to have the powers and resources equal to that of Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, so they can deliver their own Environment Strategy to protect the environment at a regional level.

In a speech to Parliament, Mayor Jarvis said there has never been a greater need for an ambitious, fully resourced and long-term plan for trees. He said: “From capturing carbon to reducing soil erosion, improving air quality, alleviating flooding, supporting biodiversity, and promoting health and well-being. The benefit that trees bring to our natural environment, our economy and our society cannot be overlooked or understated.

“However, the fact remains that we do not have enough, and we are not adequately looking after the ones we have. That’s why the England Tree Strategy is so important. It represents a golden opportunity to rethink our approach to trees.

“Moreover, it is a chance to show the world how the UK is leading the way in addressing the climate emergency by championing nature-based solutions ahead of COP 26.”

Work is already underway in South Yorkshire. A Woodland Creation Officer has been appointed to work with the South Yorkshire Local Nature Partnership (SYLNP), the Combined Authority (MCA),  and the Woodland Trust to co-ordinate woodland creation and tree planting in the region to help increase carbon capture, improve natural flood management, support nature’s recovery and promote the health and wellbeing of local people.

The COVID pandemic highlighted the importance of nature during lockdown, however, according to the Woodland Trust, only 21% of people lived within 500 metres of accessible woodland, and 27% did not have a larger accessible woodland within 4 kilometres of their home.

Mayor Jarvis said: “One of the more obvious lessons of this public health crisis has been on the importance of green space.

“For many, especially those living in flats and those without a garden, the local park has been a lifeline, without which lockdown would’ve been even more of a struggle. I believe the natural world should not be a faraway, abstract concept but a part of our everyday lives.”

As the country recovers from the impact of the pandemic and the climate crisis continues to threaten the planet, the Mayor is urging Government to take drastic action to build back better and create a stronger, greener and fairer economy and society.

He said: “The decisions the government makes on the forthcoming strategy will shape the viability of our planet and our relationship with the natural world.

“By investing in our trees and woods we are investing in healthier and happier futures and laying the foundation of a legacy we can be proud of.”

Read the Mayor’s speech in full. 

• Tree Strategy Debate(Word doc 39KB).
• Tree Strategy Debate(PDF 147KB).