The 2011 public consultation around 'the future of England's forests' was abandoned after a huge outcry.
An Independent Panel on Forestry was established to make recommendations to the Government about England's forest policy and the public forest estate.
What's happening now?
Forestry Panel releases interim progress report
The Trust's view:
The Panel’s initial conclusion to retain a public forest estate is a welcome one. As is its desire to increase woodland cover and access to woodland, and its recognition of the need to restore damaged ancient woods.
However, we are very disappointed that it has failed to make a commitment to review the strength of woodland protection. This was a strong theme in so many of the 4,000+ individual responses sent in by our supporters to the ‘call for views’.
It becomes increasingly clear that existing levels of protection cannot be guaranteed into the future. We have such a low level of woodland cover with so many pressures on land, we cannot afford to be complacent about its protection.
When the Panel was launched we devised three tests for its final report.
Here’s our interim assessment against those tests:
| Test |
Progress report |
| The Panel should build on the numerous reviews on aspects of forestry policy undertaken over the past 10 years and not attempt to reinvent the wheel. |
The report makes much of the National Ecosystem Assessment but doesn't give the conclusions of the Read report (the Stern report for forests) sufficient recognition about the role of trees and woods in mitigating and adapting to climate change. |
| The Panel should be bold and decisive in its recommendations and set an agenda for change, not one based on the status quo. |
The Panel clearly says it wants to see change. |
| The Panel should focus particularly its attention on the areas where public passions and concerns were raised during the recently abandoned public consultation, such as access and the protection and restoration of ancient woods. |
A mixed bag; the Panel comments positively on access and restoration of woodland (plus open ground habitats) but not on protection. |
Let’s hope the Panel flexes its independent muscle and challenges the government with some really thought-provoking final conclusions come next spring.
"We cannot afford to be complacent" - read our official media response to the Panel's report.
A 'Call for Views'
When the Forestry Panel asked the public what they thought about the future of forestry this summer, more than 4,000 of you shared your views using our electronic form alone.
Thank you for speaking up!
Follow the links on the right hand side to read just some of the views shared through us. The Panel received over 42,000 responses in total, which will help shape its final recommendations.
Read our official submission to the Panel's 'call for views'.