Member News
2nd March 2011
Following Joan Ruddock's Westminster Hall debate on the future of the Forestry Commission, the Woodland Trust welcomes support from parliamentarians on increasing native woodland cover.
The Woodland Trust welcomes the continued interest shown in the future of forestry policy by both Houses. It was reassuring that during the Westminster Hall debate on the future of the Forestry Commission many MPs highlighted the need to secure public benefits including access as well as support for biodiversity and an increase in woodland cover.
At present the Forestry Commission's purposes are rooted in terms of the 1967 Forestry Act which was preoccupied with timber production. We need a legislative framework which properly reflects the context of forestry in the 21st century. Forestry should be recognised as the multi-purpose provider of a wide range of vital ecosystem services ranging from recreation for public health to flood alleviation. At the Trust we want to see a strong, effective Forestry Commission which possesses both a robust regulatory role and a strong mandate to act as an enabler, working to help all sectors increase woodland cover.
In the meantime the government has proposed an independent panel of experts to investigate forestry policy. The debate on public forest disposals must address the key questions, such as the UK's pitifully low level of woodland cover. It must also ensure that its conclusions are implemented rather than being pushed into the long grass.
If the UK is to provide world leadership on issues like deforestation and climate change it is essential that our own house is in order and that leadership is demonstrated at home. There is a growing expectation that the government should both ensure strong protection for the best of what we have, and show leadership in seeking to expand our native woodland cover.
Moreover, the importance of addressing ancient woodland sites planted with conifers has been one of the major themes emerging from the debate about the future of the public forest estate. These sites represent a vital opportunity for the UK to showcase habitat restoration, as remnant ancient woodland features remain in nearly all plantations. 'Keepers of Time' - the Forestry Commission's policy document on ancient woods published in 2005 - and the estate's certified status under the UK Woodland Assurance Standard both create a presumption that the Commission will restore all sites in its care. However, to date only one, 890 hectare (ha) has been restored out of a total of 35,000ha.
Amongst a range of other vital actions that should form part of any vision for forestry policy going forward are:
• A strong commitment to woodland creation and a target of 15,000ha per annum in the natural environment white paper (UK planting rates have declined from 29,000ha in 1989 to just 5,000ha in 2010; in England the figures are 6,400ha in 1994 to 2,300 ha in 2010).
• The national planning policy framework needs to put in place proper protection for ancient woodland and not diminish it further. It is astounding that only 15 per cent of ancient woodland is currently covered by national designations.
• Giving every child the chance to plant trees as part of their education.
Article Comments
There should be much more reforestation with broad leafed trees, not conifers. All moorlands which were originally covered with trees but deforested over centuries by human activity should be replanted in order to go some way to addressing climate change, which, once again has been caused by human activity .
Mary Betteridge
3rd Mar 2011 at 11:01 pm
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