Woodlands for Wales indicators: 2026

Main points

• In 2025 woodland cover in Wales was 313,000 hectares. This is made up of 174,000 hectares of broadleaves and 139,000 hectares of conifers. This represents 15% of landcover. 
• The area of trees outside of woodland (TOW) based on maps published in 2026 is estimated to be 147,500 hectares. 
• Forestry is predicted to remain a net sink for atmospheric carbon.
• In 2023 the total value of ecosystem services provided by woodland was more than £800 million.
• In 2023 the estimated total Gross Value Added (GVA) of the forestry sector was £718 million.

Further information

The WfW indicators measure our progress towards the high-level outcomes set out in the Woodlands for Wales strategy. The indicators provide an evidence base for the current nature of Welsh woodlands and trees, and the goods and services they provide, and how this has changed over time.

The indicators are set out in 5 chapters that mirror the 5 chapters of the strategy. These are:

• Welsh woodlands and trees
• responding to climate change
• woodlands for people
• a competitive and sustainable forest sector
• environmental quality

Each indicator relates to an outcome of the strategy. Data sources, desired and observed trends, and baseline information are provided. The indicators are not classed as official statistics; however we have voluntarily applied the code of practice for statistics. Further information about how this has been applied can be found in the statement of voluntary application of the code of statistics.