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Tree planting in Northern Ireland is too slow to meet legally binding targets and thousands of residents are living in “tree poor” neighbourhoods, according to the Woodland Trust.

The organisation’s latest ‘State of The UK’s Woods and Trees: Northern Ireland’ report finds the failure to meet tree planting targets is putting climate action, nature recovery and community wellbeing at risk.

Less than 20% of the 2030 target for new woodland has been planted between 2020 and 2024.

The report calls for better protection for ancient and long-established woodlands, more investment in forestry skills, better evidence gathering, and prioritisation of tree planting in areas of greatest need.

In response, the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said his department would be developing a Northern Ireland Tree Planting Action Plan over the coming months, adding that the rate of tree planting needed to increase “substantially”.

Welcoming the report, Muir said is is “vital” to protect and restore existing woodlands and to “significantly expand” cover across Northern Ireland.

“The rate of tree planting and woodland creation needs to increase substantially to deliver tree planting targets, meet afforestation policy objectives and deliver on our climate change commitments,” the minister said in a statement.