Environment secretary Owen Paterson has suggested 100 new trees could be planted for each ancient one destroyed
Critics of the proposal warn that the proposals could result in the destruction of forests dating from around XVII century.
Green campaigners have urged the government not to "gamble" with England's natural heritage after the environment secretary defended plans to allow developers to destroy ancient woodland.
Owen Paterson sparked anger after defending the "biodiversity offsetting" scheme that he plans to introduce under which woodlands could be cut down to make way for new construction if developers agree to plant 100 trees for every one they destroy.
Paterson said that "biodiversity offsetting" could accelerate construction, providing jobs and easing the pressure on housing prices. But critics warn that the proposals could result in the destruction of forests dating from around 1600 - around a third of all woodland in England.
While destroying mature trees was a "tragic loss", replacing each with 100 new ones would "deliver a better environment over the long term", he said.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said any move to build on ancient woodland would be restricted to major projects and would only get planning permission in exceptional cases.
Paterson conceded that the present generation of UK residents would lose out and that replacement sites could be up to an hour away by car.
But he insisted the initiative – designed to ease the construction of homes, roads and major projects – would result in an "enormous increase" in trees.
"The point about offsetting is it will deliver a better environment over the long term," he told the Times.
From The Guardian
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