Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what date the transparency measures on public tree removal in the Environment Act 2021 will be implemented.

New Forestry Enforcement Measures and the Duty to Consult were introduced by the Environment Act 2021.

The New Forestry Enforcement Measures help better equip the Forestry Commission to combat unauthorised and illegal felling, with unlimited fines and more transparent enforcement processes. These changes commenced on 1 January 2023.

The Duty to Consult introduces a new duty on local authorities to consult the public on street tree felling that will take place in England, increasing the awareness and transparency of decision making on urban trees and creating a space for the public to contribute to these decisions. The guidance for the new Duty to Consult is being finalised and we aim to commence the measure soon.