Trees and woods have been high on the political agenda recently. Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA visited Drumlamph Wood.  Just outside Maghera, Drumlamph is one of our rare and precious ancient woodlands, buffered by thousands of recently planted native trees.

The environment faces a forfeit in favour of short-term economic growth. Again.

In yesterday’s autumn budget statement the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, attacked the laws protecting important UK wildlife sites from destruction by major developments. The Chancellor described the Habitats Regulations as a ‘ridiculous cost on British business’, claiming they were just ‘gold plating’ on European legislation, and spoke of burdening businesses with ‘endless social and environmental goals – however worthy in their own right’.

Time moves slowly in CAP land. This time last year I was writing a blog about the options for reform proposals for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Twelve months on, we now have the actual proposals! The EU has gone for the option of greening the existing system; slight changes but definitely not a radical reform. 

In the run up to the Northern Ireland Assembly election in May, three of the political parties pledged to increase forest cover in Northern Ireland. At the Trust we welcomed the strong democratic mandate tree planting enjoys at Stormont and called for an ambitious woodland creation target in order to set the trajectory towards the ultimate aim of doubling forest cover.

World Environment Day 2011 is on the 5th June. This year’s theme “Forests: Nature at Your Service” underscores the intrinsic link between quality of life and the health of forests and forest ecosystems. David Attenborough has narrated the United Nation’s Environment Programme (UNEP)’s short animated film on the importance of forests to every aspect of our lives. This film was used to formally launch the United Nations ‘International Year of Forests’. The World Environment Day theme also supports this year’s UN International Year of Forests.