New legislation has been tabled at Stormont that aims to strengthen protections for trees.
The private member’s bill submitted by Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds will see the introduction of tree preservation orders, the creation of a new ‘heritage tree’ designation for some of the oldest and most significant trees, and the safeguarding of trees with a legal protection from permitted developments.
A Public Service Ombudsman’s report last year revealed that only one of hundreds of breaches of tree preservation orders (TPO) in recent years led to enforcement action.
It highlighted how out of 369 reported TPO violations in the north between 2019-22 not a single prosecution was pursued by councils or the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).
Mr McReynolds said trees play a “pivotal” environmental role and are “crucial for supporting wildlife and enhancing biodiversity”.
“It is a sobering fact Northern Ireland currently ranks amongst the worst regions for biodiversity loss across the globe, and is also the least wooded area in Europe,” he said.
“It is because of this more must be done to not only protect existing trees and woodlands, but also to reverse the decline we have seen.
“This bill will be an important first step in giving our trees and woodlands the protection they need.”
The proposed legislation has been welcomed by the Woodland Trust.
The organisation’s regional public affairs manager Paul Armstrong said: “Our systems for protecting important trees urgently need strengthening.
“We need improved laws to keep our oldest and most important trees safe.”
