Woodlands for Wales indicators 2026: summary

The Woodlands for Wales (WfW) indicators are used to track progress towards the Woodlands for Wales Strategy. The latest version of the strategy was published in 2018 and sets out 20 high-level outcomes relating to trees, woodlands and forests in Wales. The future of the strategy will be subject to review by the new Government. 

The previous edition of the Woodlands for Wales indicators was published in 2019 and reported on a range of metrics and data sources across 23 chapters relating to the outcomes listed in the WfW Strategy. Most of the current indicators are made up of several measures, and a number of these relate to more than one of the high-level outcomes.

This iteration of the WfW indicators has been restructured and streamlined to clarify how individual indicators directly measure progress toward achieving the aims of the strategy. Indicators are reported in 5 separate chapters corresponding with those in the WfW Strategy.

• Welsh woodlands and trees
• Responding to climate change
• Woodlands for people
• A competitive and sustainable forest sector
• Environmental quality

The aim of this round of reporting is to ensure the most relevant, replicable and reliable data are utilised to create indicators that directly track each of the outcomes of the strategy to enable easier comparison over time. This also affords an opportunity for the outcomes of the National Forest for Wales to be recognised and incorporated into reporting. This review of the indicators means that it is not always possible to directly compare progress against what was reported in 2018, but where possible short-term trends are reported for each of the indicators.

We have tried to report on an indicator for each of the strategy outcomes. However, we recognise that a number of the indicators only partially represent the outcomes which we are seeking to measure. We will continue to invest in the collection of relevant and accurate data and to refine analysis to further improve these indicators. Where indicators are relevant to more than one of the WfW strategy outcomes, readers are signposted to the section where relevant indicators are discussed.

The WfW strategy outcomes, associated indicators and desired and observed trends are summarised here, by chapter.

Chapter 1: Welsh woodlands and trees

Outcome 1: woodland cover in Wales increases

Headline indicators

1a. Woodland area

1b. Trees outside of woodland (TOW)

Desired trends

1a. An increase in the total area of woodland and trees.

1b. An increase in the area of TOW.

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

1a. Woodland area: stable

1b. TOW: data from new data source.

Outcome 2: more woodlands and trees are managed sustainably

Headline indicators

2. Area of certified woodland

Desired trends

2. An increase in the total area of certified woodland.

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

2. Stable

Outcome 3: woodland ecosystems are healthy and resilient

Headline indicators

3a. Resilience: woodland ecological condition

3b. Tree health: new area under statutory plant health notices (SPHN)

Desired trends

3a. More woodland in favourable condition

3b. Reduced new area under SPHN

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

3a. Baseline data reported

3b. Improving

Outcome 4: woodlands are better adapted to deliver a full range of benefits

Headline indicators

4. Annual value of woodland ecosystem services

Desired trends

4. Increase in annual value

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

4. Deteriorating

Outcome 5: the management of woodland and trees is more closely related to other land uses

Headline indicators

5. Farm woodland under management

Desired trends

5. Increase in area of farm woodland under management

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

5. Indicator under development (no trend reported)

Outcome 6: urban woodlands and trees deliver a full range of benefits

Headline indicators

6a. Urban tree canopy cover

6b. Perceived benefits of urban trees

Desired trends

6a. Increase in urban tree canopy cover

6b. Increase in respondents identifying benefits of urban trees

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

6a. No new data since last report

6b. Deteriorating

Chapter 2: responding to climate change

Outcome 7: Welsh woodlands contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of Wales

Headline indicators

7a. Carbon removal by forestry

7b. Value of GHG regulation

Desired trends

7a. Increase in carbon removal by forestry

7b. Increase in value of GHG regulation

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

7a. Stable

7b. Improving

Chapter 3: woodlands for people

Outcome 8: more communities are involved with, and benefit from their local woodlands and trees

Headline indicators

8a. Visits to woodland

8b. Perceived benefits and disadvantages

Desired trends

8a. Increase in visits

8b. Increase benefits decrease disadvantages

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

8a. Improving

8b. Deteriorating

Outcome 9: more people benefit from education and learning opportunities provided in and by woodlands and trees

Headline indicators

9. Attendance at learning activities

Desired trends

9. Increase in attendance

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

9. Improving

Outcome 10: more people live healthier lives as a result of using and enjoying woodlands

Headline indicators

10a. Value of health benefits

10b. Access without a car

Desired trends

10a. Increased value

10b. Increased access

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

10a. Stable

10b. Deteriorating

Outcome 11: more people benefit from woodland-related enterprises and associated employment

Not directly assessed, see chapter 4 for employment and skills data.

Chapter 4: a competitive and sustainable forest sector

Outcome 12: more timber is grown, processed and used in Wales

Headline indicators

12a. Timber production 

12b. Timber availability forecasts

Desired trends

12a. Increase in production 

12b. Increase in availability

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

12a. Stable 

12b. Deteriorating

Outcome 13: the forest sector remains competitive and sustainable, supporting the Welsh economy

Headline indicators

13a. Gross value added (GVA)

13b. Business counts

Desired trends

13a. Increase in GVA

13b. Increase in business counts

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

13a. Improving

13b. Improving

Outcome 14: increased use of timber as a key renewable resource

Headline indicators

14. Wood use in construction (under development)

Desired trends

14. Increase in wood use in construction

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

14. Under development (no trend reported)

Outcome 15: a thriving, skilled workforce in the forest and woodland sector that can adapt to change

Headline indicators

15a. Employee numbers in the forest sector

15b. Skills and sector capacity

Desired trends

15a. Increase in employee numbers

15b. Increased skills and capacity

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

15a. Indicator under development (no trend reported)

15b. Indicator under development (no trend reported)

Chapter 5: environmental quality

Outcome 16: woodland management achieves high standards of environmental stewardship

Headline indicators

Not directly assessed, see chapter 1 for woodland management.

Outcome 17: woodlands and trees of special conservation value are identified, protected and in favourable management

Headline indicators

17a. Area of woodlands in designated sites

17b. Condition of habitat woodlands

Desired trends

17a. Area not expected to change

17b. Increase in favourable condition

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

17a. New data (no trend reported)

17b. New data (no trend reported)

Outcome 18: woodland biodiversity is supported and native woodland is in favourable management

Headline indicators

18. Woodland biodiversity

Desired trends

18. Increase in species richness and abundance measures

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

18. Under development (no overall trend reported)

Outcome 19: woodlands and trees contribute to landscape character, heritage and culture

Headline indicators

19. Historic and cultural significance of woodland

Desired trends

19. Increase in area of high or outstanding importance

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

19. Stable

Outcome 20: woodlands and trees contribute to water and soil management

Headline indicators

20a. Condition of woodland soil 

20b. Woodland contribution to flood management

Desired trends

20a. Improvements in soil condition indices

20b. Increase in flood management value

Observed trend since last WfW indicators

20a. mixed trends

20b. new data (no trend reported)

Trends have been calculated for the indicators using the criteria set out in Table 1. These will be displayed at the start of each chapter for the indicators reported in the chapter.

Where appropriate data are available, the most recent data point is compared with the value from the last WfW indicators report (or data from that time period where this was not previously reported), smoothed using a three-year average. 

For example, a data point from 2025 would be compared to the three-year average around 2018 (2017, 2018 and 2019). The purpose of this is to reduce the likely impact of individual annual anomalies.

Report authors: Forest Research in conjunction with the Trees and Soils Branch

Production of these indicators has been led by Forest Research, on behalf of Welsh Government. Views expressed in this report are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Welsh Government.

For further information please contact:

Trees and Soils Branch’
Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

Email: PolisiCoedwigaeth.ForestryPolicy@gov.wales

Digital ISBN: 978-1-83745-705-2