Brexit Stops Greening Campaigns in Northern Ireland

Phytosecurity regulations (designed to prevent the transfer of pests into the EU) have, post-Brexit, resulted in the cancellation of 100,000 trees ordered from Britain by Northern Ireland (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/17/brexit-forces-northern-ireland-buyers-to-cancel-orders-for-100000-trees). These trees (mainly saplings in soil but also some mature examples), were intended for major planting programmes. The programmes aimed to counter climate change and were to be undertaken by schools and communities in Northern Ireland (NI). For example, The Woodland Trust in NI, has had to cancel an order for 22,000 saplings. The Brexit-related change in regulations, has also resulted in business declines for companies, like Alba Trees, in Scotland, who normally sell 250,000 trees per year. Phytosecurity is very important but, presumably, little has changed in the last few months. I do hope that ways can be found to accelerate tree planting in all areas of the EU and the UK. Getting children to plant trees can change their attitude to the environment.