Moreover, Northern Ireland is the least wooded region in the UK and Ireland, has the lowest urban tree cover in the UK and ranks 12th worst for biodiversity loss out of 240 countries. The region’s comparatively low level of tree and woodland cover, and disappearing biodiversity reinforces how important it is to protect our existing trees and woods, recognising them as valuable natural infrastructure and heritage assets that demand safeguarding.
A Tree Protection Bill would seek to strengthen the current legal protections of single trees, groups of trees, and ancient and long-established woodland to protect them against the unnecessary loss of mature trees and woodlands.
To do this, the Private Members Bill would cover three key areas:
- Strengthen the protection provided through Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs),
- Protect and support Northern Ireland’s oldest and most significant trees by creating a new ‘Heritage Tree’ designation,
- Safeguard ancient and long-established woodland, and trees with a legal protection from permitted development.
To give your thoughts on our proposals, please complete the consultation linked here.