PeterNatt
Well-Known Member
This is the report on forestry which many of us have been waiting for.
Improved opportunities for recreation in public and private forests and
woodland get strong support but it specifically says that it is not
appropriate to give open access under the CROW Act for activities other than
walking. I and many others asked for this for horse riders when we met the
Panel so it is disappointing that the case for horse riding without permits
has not been acknowledged. But it does say that other activities should be
given as much access as possible depending on local circumstances so perhaps
the argument can be continued at the local level.
The best thing to come out of this is the realisation of the value of public
forests for health and well being. So although I haven't found a statement
that says that the sale of FC forests will stop, it would appear that they
will be protected for the benefit of the public in the long term and that
every effort will be made to increase woodland cover with public access in
the future.
The Independent Panel on Forestry has published its Final Report, which is
available here . <http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/reports/>
http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/reports/
The report calls for the benefits of Englands woods and forests to be
re-valued for all the services they provide. These include not only areas
for recreation, but also clean air, clean water, habitats for wildlife,
locking up carbon, shading in cities - even helping in flood reduction.
Wood is the raw material for timber frame buildings, furniture, flooring,
fuel, and of course paper. The report highlights the triple bottom line
that forestry delivers and calls for a revival of a woodland culture that
appreciates how important trees are for people, for nature and the economy.
It highlights that the public forest estate is the single largest provider
of outdoor leisure and recreation in England. And it is also the single
largest timber producer, as well as being a vital habitat for wildlife.
Research shows that these elements are producing annual returns on
investment estimated at £400 million. With over 80% of Englands woods and
forests being outside of the public forest estate, the Panel is calling for
more of these woods and forests to be sustainably managed to create a
substantial impact.
Speaking on behalf of the Panel members, The Right Reverend James Jones,
Bishop of Liverpool, said:
The Panels work over the last year has shown that our woodlands, managed
sustainably, can offer solutions to some of the most pressing challenges
facing society today. We have consulted widely, visited woods and forests
around the country and read over 42,000 submissions.
There is untapped potential within Englands woodlands to create jobs, to
sustain skills and livelihoods, to improve the health and wellbeing of
people and to provide better and more connected places for nature.
Most importantly, the public forest estate needs to be free from the
electoral cycle, for trees have long lifecycles - decisions taken now are
looking to a future that is 50, or even 100, years down the line. And the
bodies managing the public forest estate and advising woodland owners need
to evolve and be free to become much more entrepreneurial. We recommend the
expansion of woodland cover from 10% to 15% by 2060.
The recommendations focus on maximising the social, environmental and
business benefits of English woodland, so that the forestry industry will be
on a more secure footing in the future. To achieve this we propose that the
public forest estate should be defined in law as land held in trust for the
nation so that it will always remain as a national asset. Bishop James
states:
Government investment is now needed to kick start these changes which will
repay itself many times over in terms of public benefit
We look forward to hearing your response to the Report
Liz Morrison
Secretariat for the Independent Panel on Forestry
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Area 5E, 5th Floor, Nobel House,
17 Smith Square, LONDON, SW1P 3JR
Direct Line: 020 7238 6189
Mobile 07860 637449
Email: <mailto:liz.morrison@defra.gsi.gov.uk> liz.morrison@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Website: <http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/>
http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/
Twitter: @ForestryPanel
(Copied from a post made by Sue Rogers on EuroEnduro)
Improved opportunities for recreation in public and private forests and
woodland get strong support but it specifically says that it is not
appropriate to give open access under the CROW Act for activities other than
walking. I and many others asked for this for horse riders when we met the
Panel so it is disappointing that the case for horse riding without permits
has not been acknowledged. But it does say that other activities should be
given as much access as possible depending on local circumstances so perhaps
the argument can be continued at the local level.
The best thing to come out of this is the realisation of the value of public
forests for health and well being. So although I haven't found a statement
that says that the sale of FC forests will stop, it would appear that they
will be protected for the benefit of the public in the long term and that
every effort will be made to increase woodland cover with public access in
the future.
The Independent Panel on Forestry has published its Final Report, which is
available here . <http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/reports/>
http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/reports/
The report calls for the benefits of Englands woods and forests to be
re-valued for all the services they provide. These include not only areas
for recreation, but also clean air, clean water, habitats for wildlife,
locking up carbon, shading in cities - even helping in flood reduction.
Wood is the raw material for timber frame buildings, furniture, flooring,
fuel, and of course paper. The report highlights the triple bottom line
that forestry delivers and calls for a revival of a woodland culture that
appreciates how important trees are for people, for nature and the economy.
It highlights that the public forest estate is the single largest provider
of outdoor leisure and recreation in England. And it is also the single
largest timber producer, as well as being a vital habitat for wildlife.
Research shows that these elements are producing annual returns on
investment estimated at £400 million. With over 80% of Englands woods and
forests being outside of the public forest estate, the Panel is calling for
more of these woods and forests to be sustainably managed to create a
substantial impact.
Speaking on behalf of the Panel members, The Right Reverend James Jones,
Bishop of Liverpool, said:
The Panels work over the last year has shown that our woodlands, managed
sustainably, can offer solutions to some of the most pressing challenges
facing society today. We have consulted widely, visited woods and forests
around the country and read over 42,000 submissions.
There is untapped potential within Englands woodlands to create jobs, to
sustain skills and livelihoods, to improve the health and wellbeing of
people and to provide better and more connected places for nature.
Most importantly, the public forest estate needs to be free from the
electoral cycle, for trees have long lifecycles - decisions taken now are
looking to a future that is 50, or even 100, years down the line. And the
bodies managing the public forest estate and advising woodland owners need
to evolve and be free to become much more entrepreneurial. We recommend the
expansion of woodland cover from 10% to 15% by 2060.
The recommendations focus on maximising the social, environmental and
business benefits of English woodland, so that the forestry industry will be
on a more secure footing in the future. To achieve this we propose that the
public forest estate should be defined in law as land held in trust for the
nation so that it will always remain as a national asset. Bishop James
states:
Government investment is now needed to kick start these changes which will
repay itself many times over in terms of public benefit
We look forward to hearing your response to the Report
Liz Morrison
Secretariat for the Independent Panel on Forestry
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Area 5E, 5th Floor, Nobel House,
17 Smith Square, LONDON, SW1P 3JR
Direct Line: 020 7238 6189
Mobile 07860 637449
Email: <mailto:liz.morrison@defra.gsi.gov.uk> liz.morrison@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Website: <http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/>
http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/
Twitter: @ForestryPanel
(Copied from a post made by Sue Rogers on EuroEnduro)