HC Deb 29 April 1985 vol 78 cc39-40W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the area covered by afforestation in the United Kingdom in 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980 and his estimate of expected life of reserves of current rates of extraction.

Mr. John MacKay

The area of woodland in each of these years was as follows:

Year Area (hectares)
1950 1,525,000
1960 1,700,000
1970 1,880,000
1980 2,180,000

These figures include unproductive woodland.

Woodlands are a renewable resource and, given their effective management, the life of timber reserves should be infinite.

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