A new report from the National Audit Office shows significant steps have been made, but much more could be done with clearer financial promises.
Activities such as tree planting and peatland restoration are having a significant impact on England’s ecosystems. When Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund Programme launched shed in 2020, the country had just 14.9% of land area with tree cover, while 80% of that was in a dry or degraded state.
In the year 2024-25 alone, 6,324 hectares of England’s total area of 7,162 was positively impacted by tree planting — almost equal to the total amount of planting that took place in the five years before the Programme was launched. However, a slow start to the scheme means cumulative targets have. been missed, with delays in the processing of grant applications and land use changes among the factors that held things up.
According to the National Audit Office (NAO), which has published this new assessement, Defra need to improve monitoring of intended beneficial outcomes from both tree planting and peatland restoration. A process should also be introduced which can prioritise objectives for future programmes, such as the link between carbon reduction, timber production and nature improvements.
The organisation should also take a more proactive approach to managing tensions between nature and other policy objectives, revisit 2050 targets to ensure they are possible and reduce uncertainty for delivery partners and stakeholders, particularly in transitional periods.
‘Defra’s Nature for Climate Programme has helped to significantly increase tree planting and peatland restoration in England,’ said Gareth Davies, Head of NAO. ‘In order to ensure momentum doesn’t stall, Defra should apply what it has learned about the most effective use of its funding, to maximise the climate and biodiversity benefits and attract private investment.’
Image: Syahrin Seth / Unsplash
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