The Welsh government will end funding for a Uganda tree-planting scheme by the end of March 2027, according to BBC News. Ministers stated that budgetary pressures and difficult decisions led to the removal of the grant for the charity Size of Wales, which has received more than £4m since 2015.
Key points
- The Welsh government is ending funding for a tree-planting scheme in Uganda by March 2027.
- Wales has provided more than £4m to climate charity Size of Wales since 2015.
- Political parties in the Senedd expressed differing views on the decision to scrap the funding.
- Ministers stated the withdrawal is not a judgment on the quality of the work.
Budgetary pressures and government plans
The decision regarding the Uganda tree-planting scheme comes as the Plaid Cymru-run government prepares to publish its draft budget for 2026-27. A Welsh government spokesperson explained that officials are developing a new international strategy and must ensure that future investments deliver clear benefits for Wales as well as international partners, noting that recognising a programme’s success is different from committing to fund it indefinitely.
The charity Size of Wales works with Indigenous communities to grow trees and protect tropical forests. Previous funding included £350,000 for the current financial year, supporting work around Mbale in the Mount Elgon region of eastern Uganda where more than 25 million trees had been planted as of 2025.
What happens next for the Size of Wales charity?
Grant funding for the Mbale tree-planting programme will not be renewed beyond 31 March 2027. However, the Welsh government also provides a grant of £280,000 a year for an education programme in Welsh schools that runs until the end of March 2027, with a future proposal to be submitted for consideration by the rural resilience and sustainability minister.
Ministers emphasised that withdrawing the funding was not a judgment on the quality of the work. The government stated it looks forward to continuing dialogue with the charity.
Where views differ
- Reform UK’s leader in Wales, Helen Jenner, welcomed the decision, stating that her party had demanded an end to “ridiculous woke spending” and that taxpayers’ money should be spent in Wales rather than sent abroad, according to BBC News.
- The leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, Darren Millar, described the move as long overdue, arguing that money should instead support schools, the NHS, and the domestic economy, according to BBC News.
- Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds criticised the decision as short-sighted, accusing Plaid Cymru of cutting international work that has been a proven success and stating that global responsibility should not be abandoned, according to BBC News.
- Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates remarked that Plaid Cymru had championed international programmes while in opposition, saying their actions differed from their previous words, according to BBC News.
Why it matters
The decision marks a shift in how public funds are allocated for international environmental projects by the devolved administration. It highlights ongoing political debates over domestic spending priorities versus international commitments.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Wales scrap the Uganda tree-planting scheme?
The Welsh government stated that budgetary pressures meant difficult decisions had to be made about where limited resources can have the greatest impact.
How much money did Wales give to Uganda for trees?
Wales has given more than £4m to the climate charity Size of Wales since 2015, which included £350,000 allocated for the current financial year.
What is the Size of Wales charity?
Size of Wales works with Indigenous and local people worldwide to grow trees and protect at least two million hectares of tropical forests, which is an area the size of Wales.
Sources: BBC News
Image: Representative image (AI-generated)
This article was written with AI assistance and checked against the cited sources.
