Scientific Advisory Group
The Government has committed to facilitate an increase in tree cover on an unprecedented scale, in both rural and urban areas, in woodlands and across the wider treescape. Planting will be increased to a rate of 30,000 hectares of trees per annum across the UK from 2025 onwards, supporting the Government’s Net Zero commitments, whilst also maximising other environmental and socio-economic objectives.
The new England Trees Action Plan sets out priorities for achieving the objectives by expanding, protecting and improving our trees and woodlands. It also sets out the increased role that trees and woodlands can play in supporting the economy, how best to further connect people to nature, and the most effective way in which trees and woodlands can be created and managed to help combat climate change.
The Trees and Woodlands Scientific Advisory Group (TAW-SAG) is one of several expert advisory groups being established within Defra and one of several complementary routes by which the programme can access evidence. TAW-SAG will provide balanced scientific advice to the England tree planting programme, ensuring that Defra receives input from a wide range of scientific experts and disciplines, supporting both carbon sequestration and wider environmental and socio-economic objectives.
The Trees and Woodlands Scientific Advisory Group (TAW-SAG) provides expert scientific input, challenge and assurance to Defra on the use of evidence and analysis to support woodland creation and improve woodland management.
TAW-SAG was established on 22 April 2021.