Wales Scraps Controversial Uganda Tree-Planting Scheme

The Welsh administration has announced it will terminate financial support for a contentious tree-planting initiative in Uganda. Since 2015, over £4 million has been directed to the climate change charity Size of Wales, which collaborates with Indigenous communities to foster tree-planting in the African nation. This includes £350,000 allocated during the current financial year. Officials stated that budgetary constraints necessitated difficult decisions, meaning the charity will forfeit its grant when funding concludes at the end of March 2027.

Opposition parties in the Senedd expressed divided reactions to the announcement. Right-wing factions welcomed the move, while left-wing representatives voiced criticism. The Welsh Liberal Democrats contended that the Plaid Cymru-led administration was outflanking Reform UK. Size of Wales has historically worked with Indigenous and local populations globally to grow trees and safeguard at least two million hectares of tropical forests, an area comparable to the size of Wales. Previous Labour administrations initiated the partnership, which involved planting 25 million trees around Mbale in the Mount Elgon region of eastern Uganda as of 2025.

Wales is ending its financial support for the Size of Wales tree-planting initiative in Uganda by 2027.

Wales Uganda Trees Cost

Critics previously targeted the spending, prompting Labour ministers to defend the allocation last year by noting it represented about £270,000 annually, or 0.001% of the government's total budget. Proponents argued the funds assisted vulnerable populations in adapting to climate change and shielding Mount Elgon residents from severe landslides. Plaid took leadership of the government in May, and the decision precedes the publication of the upcoming draft budget for 2026-27.

A government spokesperson clarified that the decision reflected a need to prioritize limited resources rather than a critique of the program's quality. They noted that acknowledging a successful venture does not equate to permanent funding commitments, and the administration is currently formulating a new international strategy to ensure future investments demonstrate clear value. Meanwhile, Reform UK and Welsh Conservative leaders praised the termination of the project, arguing that taxpayer funds should remain focused on domestic priorities such as health and education. Conversely, the Welsh Liberal Democrats condemned the step as short-sighted, emphasizing the positive ecological and community links established through the partnership.

Why it matters

The termination of this long-running international initiative marks a shift in regional spending priorities as the Welsh administration confronts tight budgetary constraints. The decision directly impacts the environmental charity Size of Wales and local communities in eastern Uganda that relied on the grants for conservation and landslide protection efforts.