To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what considerations his Department has given to increasing protection for ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees and their habitats.

My Department protects woodland designated as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) under the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 which requires that operations within the ASSI citation need consent from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. The Department’s Forest Service regulates tree felling in forests under the Forestry Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 to ensure sustainable forest management, including the regeneration of the woodland. Forest Service also regulates woodland removal under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations (Northern Ireland) within the exemptions and thresholds that apply.

These regulations to protect ASSI woodland, regulate felling and woodland removal for which my Department has responsibility affords protection to ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees in woodland. I have no plans to review the current regulations.