A remarkable 25,000 people have been engaged in Tree Planting across Northern Ireland - Cree
North Down Ulster Unionist MLA Leslie Cree can confirm that to date the Woodland Trust in their Tree Planting for All Campaign has engaged a total of 25,000 people in tree planting initiatives across the Province.
The politician continued “This is a great achievement for the Woodland Trust. Two hundred and fifty acres of new woodlands have been developed with a total of 200,000 trees planted in the fist three year phase of this ambitious campaign,” he said.
Mr Cree stressed that “Northern Ireland currently ranks as one of the least wooded regions in Europe with total tree coverage of only 6% compared with the European average of 44%. We need to do all we can to help environmental groups to motivate this and future generations,” he added.
“I understand that Government have committed to help increase tree coverage in Northern Ireland over the next fifty years. I would however suggest that plans should be brought forward to address this shortfall now, “he urged.
Continuing he said “I will be taking steps to encourage my colleagues in the NI Assembly to address this issue as a matter of priority given the distressing fact that Northern Ireland lags behind considerably in terms of tree impact on this island. I think it is only but right to support the work of the Woodland Trust and others who work tirelessly to educate and motivate people to become more environmentally active.”
“Let us begin now to try and make a difference so that by 2011 when the Tree for All Campaign is completed we will have statistics that will rise above the current 6%.” By planting more trees we are actively addressing the serious impact of global warming as each tree planted significantly improves air quality by reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.”