The Welsh government will terminate funding for a tree-planting initiative in Uganda operated by the charity Size of Wales, citing budgetary constraints and a shift toward demonstrating measurable returns on international investment. According to BBC News, the decision to withdraw support comes as the Plaid Cymru-led administration prepares to unveil its draft budget for 2026–27 and represents a significant departure from the previous Labour government's commitment to the scheme.
Since 2015, Wales has allocated more than £4 million to Size of Wales for work alongside Indigenous communities in the Mount Elgon region of eastern Uganda, with £350,000 provided during the current financial year. The grant will cease at the end of March 2027. The scheme has resulted in the planting of 25 million trees and has distributed 3.2 million seedlings in Uganda during the current financial year, according to WalesOnline.
Why is the Welsh government making this change?
Officials stated that budgetary pressures necessitated "difficult decisions" about resource allocation. A Welsh government spokesperson explained that the decision reflects a broader reassessment of international spending priorities rather than a criticism of the charity's performance.
"That is not a judgement on the quality of the work. The programme has planted millions of trees and built important links between Wales and Uganda, and we look forward to continuing our dialogue with Size of Wales."
The spokesperson added that recognising a programme's success does not automatically justify continued funding under the same model, and that the government must determine where limited resources can achieve the greatest impact. A Welsh Government budget scrutiny report published on 5 November indicates that the 2026–27 international relations and sustainable development budgets face real-terms cuts, with £9.232 million allocated for international activity, including £1.05 million for international sustainable development.
The Welsh government is developing "a new international strategy for Wales" and intends to ensure that future international investment demonstrates clear impact and value for money while delivering benefits both for Wales and its international partners.
How have political parties responded?
The decision has divided the Senedd along ideological lines. Right-wing opposition parties have praised the move, while left-wing and centrist parties have condemned it as short-sighted.
Reform UK's leader in Wales, Helen Jenner, welcomed the announcement, stating that her party had campaigned for years to end what she characterised as "ridiculous woke spending."
"We have changed the conversation in Cardiff Bay and demanded that Welsh taxpayers' money be spent in Wales and not sent abroad for things like Ugandan trees. Now, thanks to us, Welsh households will not be funding those trees."
Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar described the decision as "long overdue but it is better late than never," arguing that resources should prioritise Welsh schools and hospitals rather than overseas projects.
"It's outrageous that the Welsh government has been spending so much taxpayers' money on planting trees in Africa while our schools and hospitals have not been getting the cash they need."
However, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds characterised the move as "short-sighted," emphasising that climate action and nature protection are not luxuries.
"Size of Wales has planted millions of trees, built real links between Wales and Uganda, and helped communities protect forests that matter to all of us. Plaid are out-Reforming Reform by cutting international funding for work ministers admit has been a success."
Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates highlighted what he saw as inconsistency in Plaid Cymru's position, noting that the party had previously championed international programmes while in opposition.
What was the original purpose of the scheme?
Size of Wales operates globally with Indigenous and local communities to expand tree coverage and safeguard at least two million hectares of tropical forests—an area equivalent to Wales itself. The Uganda initiative, which began in 2015 under previous Labour administrations, focused on the Mount Elgon region, where tree-planting efforts have provided environmental and livelihood benefits to local populations.
The scheme has been credited with protecting communities from deadly landslides, a significant hazard in the mountainous region. Labour ministers had previously defended the spending by noting that it represented approximately £270,000 annually—equivalent to 0.001% of the government's total annual budget in 2025—while helping some of the world's poorest people adapt to climate change and improve their economic circumstances.
What other international funding remains?
The Welsh government continues to provide a separate annual grant of £280,000 to Size of Wales for an education programme delivered in Welsh schools. This funding also runs until the end of March 2027, with a proposal for the programme's future to be submitted to the country's rural resilience and sustainability minister for consideration.
The decision to end the Uganda tree-planting scheme reflects broader constraints on international spending. A Senedd committee report notes that the Welsh Government's International Strategy and International Delivery Plan are due to end in March 2026, marking a transition point in how Wales approaches international development and climate action partnerships.
According to WalesOnline, Reform UK made ending international spending a non-negotiable condition for any budget agreement with Plaid Cymru, suggesting that the funding decision reflects political negotiations rather than purely administrative considerations.
What happens next?
The Welsh Government's Final Budget for 2026–27 is scheduled for a Senedd debate and vote on 27 January 2026. This will provide an opportunity for elected members to scrutinise the broader international spending framework and the rationale for reallocating resources away from overseas development initiatives.
Size of Wales will continue operating the Uganda scheme until the end of March 2027, allowing time for the charity to plan for the transition and potentially seek alternative funding sources. The Welsh government has indicated its intention to maintain dialogue with the organisation despite the funding withdrawal.
Key Facts
- Wales has funded Size of Wales since 2015, providing more than £4 million for tree-planting in Uganda's Mount Elgon region
- The scheme has planted 25 million trees and distributed 3.2 million seedlings during the current financial year
- The annual cost of approximately £270,000 represented 0.001% of Wales's total government budget
- The funding decision reflects political pressure from Reform UK, which made ending international spending a condition of budget negotiations
- A separate £280,000 annual education programme grant to Size of Wales remains in place until March 2027
