§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those species of tree which currently provide a significant proportion of tree cover in the United Kingdom, estimating for each species what proportion of tree cover is provided; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 2 June 1992]: The proportion of each tree species in United Kingdom woodlands are as follows:
Species Tree cover percentage Broadleaves Oak 8 Birch 6 Ash 3 Beech 3 Sycamore 3 Other broadleaves 9 Conifers Sitka spruce 33 Scots pine 10 Lodgepole pine 7 Larch 7 Norway spruce 4 Other conifers 7
§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage area of Britain is covered by forest and woodland currently; and what is his forecast for the year 2000.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 2 June 1992]: Some 10.3 per cent. of Britain is currently covered by forest and woodland. This is expected to increase to about 11 per cent. by the year 2000.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total acreage in each county of evergreen forest and deciduous forest for each of the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 2 June 1992]: The latest year for which information is available on areas of woodland by county is 1980. This is given in Forestry Commission Bulletin 63, Census of Woodlands and Trees 1979–82, a copy of which is in the Library.
This information is not available for any other period in the last 15 years, but the total areas of woodland by country, divided between conifers and broadleaves, has been published each year by the Forestry Commission in "Forestry Facts and Figures". These figures are given in the table.
Thousand hectares Conifers Broadleaves Other woodland1 Total England 1977 401 324 180 905 1978 404 323 173 900 1979 405 323 172 900 1980 407 322 171 900 1981 408 322 170 900 1982 407 324 169 900 21983 395 458 91 944 1984 397 458 90 945 1985 395 460 90 945 1986 395 461 90 946 1987 396 464 90 950 1988 393 467 90 950 1989 395 468 90 953 31990 386 469 103 958 1991 385 471 102 958 Scotland 1977 728 39 92 859 1978 743 39 85 867 1979 760 39 84 883 1980 781 39 84 904 1981 798 39 84 921 1982 818 39 83 940 21983 831 76 71 978 1984 853 76 71 1,000 1985 871 76 70 1,017 1986 891 77 70 1,038 1987 918 78 71 1,067 1988 937 78 72 1,087 1989 956 79 72 1,107 31990 956 83 81 1,120 1991 962 87 82 1,131 Wales 1977 164 33 33 230 1978 165 33 32 230 1979 166 33 32 231 1980 167 33 32 232 1981 169 33 31 233 1982 170 33 32 235 21983 172 61 10 243 1984 173 61 10 244 1985 174 61 10 245 1986 175 61 10 246 1987 176 62 10 248 1988 175 62 11 248 1989 175 62 10 247 31990 173 63 12 248 1991 172 63 12 247 1 Other woodland consists of scrub, felled woodland and other areas managed chiefly for amenity and public recreation. 2 The figures for 1983 and subsequent years are based on the Census of Woodlands and Trees, 1979–82. This resulted in a significant reclassification of forest land. 1 In 1990, 25,000 hectares of Forestry Commission woodland were reclassified as other woodland.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of(a) deciduous and 593W (b) evergreen trees planted in the United Kingdom for each of the last 10 years; and if he will give his estimate of the number felled.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 2 June 1992]: No record is kept of the number of trees planted, although an estimate can be made from the areas of conifers and broadleaves planted or grant-aided by the Forestry Commission over the last 10 years. These are as follows:
Year ended 31 March Area planted (thousands hectares) Estimated numbers planted (millions) conifers broadleaves conifers broadleaves 1982 31 1 78 1 1983 29 2 73 2 1984 33 2 83 2 1985 28 2 70 2 1986 32 3 80 3 1987 33 4 83 5 1988 36 6 90 7 1989 37 6 91 7 1990 24 10 59 11 1991 22 11 56 12 Information is available on the volume of timber felled each year, but it is not possible to convert this into an estimate of the number of trees felled. However, when granting permission for tree felling the Forestry Commission normally requires that the trees are replaced.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to use market instruments to encourage preservation and planting of native wildwoods in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 2 June 1992]: In accordance with the Government's policy, the Forestry Commission's woodland grant scheme offers grants to private owners for the management and extension of native woodlands. Management grants were introduced from 1 April this year and include a special rate for ancient and semi-natural woodlands.