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| 04.06.08 - TAN 8 and Forestry Commission Land |
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| Written by Brynle Williams AM |
| Wednesday, 04 June 2008 00:00 |
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I rise to propose the motion in the name of William Graham, that the National Assembly for Wales: 1. Acknowledges the contribution that sustainable forestry management can make towards addressing climate change; and 2. Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to: a) review TAN8 in accordance with the decision made by the National Assembly on 20 June 2007; and b) abandon its plans to build Wind Turbines on Forestry Commission Wales land. I’m grateful for the opportunity today to introduce this motion on behalf of my colleague. Issues regarding sustainability are incredibly relevant, and the continuing debate regarding the far reaching scope of this subject is necessary if we are to achieve progress. It is for this reason that Welsh Conservatives are again at the forefront of the ongoing ‘sustainability’ conversation, understanding and emphasising the importance of bringing it into this context. As the motion suggests, our focus today is on sustainable forest management, with specific reference to the climate change challenge faced by us all. Our forests in Wales count amongst some of our most valuable assets. The area covered by woodland in Wales is 14%. Though this is less than the EU average of 32%, the part it plays in aspects such as industry, the landscape and recreation shouldn’t be overlooked. And, what’s more, with 40% of the forestry land in Wales coming under the direct responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government, this Labour/Plaid government should be doing everything it can to ensure its fair share of woodland in Wales is managed well for the benefit of the people of Wales – who of course they represent. In a recent survey conducted by the Forestry Commission Wales, the findings on public perception of woodland in Wales make interesting reading. For example, 71% thought trees were good because they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in wood. 86% said a lot more trees should be planted. 53% believed cutting down forests and woodland makes climate change worse. Over 90% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that woodlands play an important role in children’s and young people’s outdoor experience and that woodlands in Wales are an important part of the country’s natural and cultural heritage. Over three-quarters (79%) said they had visited forests or woodlands for walks, picnics or other recreation in the past few years. What’s certain from these figures, and despite whether we agree with the perceptions or not, is that woodland in Wales is important in the lives of the people in Wales, and increasingly the perception is that our forests need to be preserved and managed well, especially within the context of Climate Change. Unfortunately though, forest management is often seen through blinkered lenses, and a failure to take in the big picture is detrimental – both locally and nationally. Without stating the obvious, a well managed forest has surely much more to offer than a place to walk the dog and have a picnic – though as we’ve seen, of course both of these have significant merit! No, our forests need to be seen for their multi-functional aspects and the beneficial differences that they can make to so many areas of our lives, and again as mentioned, in ways that offer benefit to communities locally and to the country as a whole. Let’s be clear here, forests naturally offer a great resource in helping us reduce our carbon footprint, and if for no other reason than this, we must ensure that our forests are managed and utilised to their full potential. There are a number of excellent examples of forest management in Wales. For example, I’m impressed by the way Llandegla Forest in North Wales is managed. Llandegla Forest is owned and managed by UPM Tilhill and covers an area of about 1,620 acres. The forest produces a sustainable yield of about 6,500t of timber a year, in 2005 was the winner of the ‘Woods for Wales Award’ as the best managed forest in Wales, and among other species is home to about 50% of the Welsh Black Grouse population. Another jewel in the crown, and to prove that the private sector can produce public benefit within the context of commercial forest management, the Llandegla Mountain Bike Visitor Centre, with it’s extensive mountain bike trails, café, conference room, shop and other facilities, is one of the largest privately owned recreation facilities in North Wales. Through various partnerships, ranging from the local community to the Forestry Commission, UPM have developed a resource that has ambitious goals among which are to increase its visitor level far above the current level of 120k per year. The company’s overall sustainability ethos is also impressive, with a timber management programme that makes environmental sense. This includes good practices ranging from forest residue harvesting and short rotation forestry, to the supplying of other environmentally sustainable industries – such as their own paper mill in Shotton. Their forest management is to be commended, with the whole process of the market chain accounted for. I would suggest that this is in complete contrast to the way in which the Labour/Plaid government views the forests under its jurisdiction. By embracing TAN 8 and the designated Strategic Search Areas it contains, the Labour/Plaid government have in effect, rushed headlong into potentially clearing huge areas of forest in an effort to fulfil its blinkered programme of the proliferation of onshore wind technology. The Labour/Plaid government is clearly at odds with itself over its sustainability and environmental strategic objectives. On the one hand it is handing over significant tracts of government-owned forestry land to wind farm developers in order for it to be felled. Yet on the other hand, Ministers are stressing the importance of maintaining Welsh forests because of their value to the Welsh economy and tackling climate change. The landscape is perhaps the most valuable asset of Wales. While the land itself supports agriculture and forestry, it is tourism that makes the leading contribution to the economy of Wales. Much of the appeal of the Welsh landscape lies in its wildness – a sense of remoteness and an absence of urban and industrial features. This is what is under threat. For example, in the Clocaenog Forest in Denbigshire, TAN 8 accepts that half the 12,500 acre forest will probably have to be clear felled to accommodate wind turbines. In the case of Clocaenog Forest, it’s not just the landscape features that are at risk. Good forest management also includes an assessment of water and flood risk management. Many forests, such as Clocaenog, occupy highland areas, and play a part in reducing flood risk in areas downstream – so in this particular case, Ruthin. Many of our forests are habitats for vulnerable species. As already mentioned, there are examples such as the Black Grouse in Llandegla forest, while Clocaenog is home to the largest population of red squirrel in Wales. TAN 8 appears to have no mechanism to take these important aspects into consideration. But TAN 8 has a numerous faults, which we’ve highlighted on many occasions. These include the imposition of wind farms on rural communities, tying the hands of Local Planning Authorities, its failure to propose other sources of renewable energy, and its failure to propose ways to increase and promote energy efficiency. This is why last June – roughly a year ago – an agreement was made by the National Assembly to review TAN 8. But, to date, there is still no sign of that review. Surely, it’s time for the Labour/Plaid government to honour that agreement, and review TAN 8 – rather than simply paying lip service. I think by now it’s time for the Plaid element of the coalition to speak up, as they did last June in supporting our calls for a review. Or will the ‘Party of Wales’ simply continue to capitulate to Labour’s terms, and jointly be responsible for the demise of our rich environmental heritage? As well as calling for a review of TAN 8, in line with the need for better forest management, today the Welsh Conservatives also calls upon the Labour/Plaid government to abandon its plans to build wind farms on Forestry Commission land. No doubt, Labour will jump on this, and continue trying to paint the Welsh Conservatives as being opposed to renewable wind technology. But, let’s make it clear once again. The Welsh Conservatives are not against wind energy. What we are opposed to is the imposition of large-scale wind farms against the wishes of local people, which have a devastating impact on communities and the local environment. We believe that a balanced approach should be taken to renewable energy which will create more opportunities for British business and have a far less intrusive impact on our landscape. New green technologies have been sidelined in Wales because Rhodri Morgan has failed to show leadership and develop more diverse mix of renewable energy sources. I challenge you to talk to any expert in the field of renewable energy technology, and I can almost guarantee that there is unanimous agreement on the fact that placing all our eggs in the basket of wind farms is asking for trouble, and that wind technology is not the utopian dream this Labour/Plaid government makes it out to be. The Labour/Plaid government could choose to embrace a variety of technologies, and show themselves to be true leaders by working with the support of local communities, or they could continue to rush headlong on the band wagon of wind technology, against the wishes and opinions of local communities. Just to clarify though. The Welsh Conservatives are not against wind technology, but believe it should take its place alongside other renewable technologies, along with the support of local communities. So today we propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1. Acknowledges the contribution that sustainable forestry management can make towards addressing climate change; and 2. Calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to: a) review TAN8 in accordance with the decision made by the National Assembly on 20 June 2007; and b) abandon its plans to build Wind Turbines on Forestry Commission Wales land. |