The Welsh Assembly Government has pledged to take "a good, long, hard look" at how the country's woodlands will need to adapt to help tackle climate change as part of a new 50-year vision.

Plans included in the Woodlands for Wales strategy unveiled by rural affairs minister, Elin Jones, include increasing the country's woodland cover and planting more diverse species of tree, which are more resilient to the effects of climate change. Increasing the amount of woodland cover in Wales would also form part of the Assembly Government's One Wales initiative, which is committed to establishing a Welsh National Forest to act as a carbon sink.

Jones said: "Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our generation. The effects of this can be eased by woodlands and trees, which is why the new Woodlands for Wales strategy sets out bold an ambitious plans to help Wales towards its target of a year-on-year 3 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2011. "Increasing Wales' woodland cover will also provide a wide range of opportunities for people from all walks of life to become involved in their woodlands and to enjoy them as places for recreation and learning."