Britain's Heart of Oaks to be sold

[David Guyatt]

For those unfamiliar with a British government "consultation" it is simply this: a "fuck you later promise" which goes something like this:

"We will listen to what you have to say, ignore it naturally, and then do as we have already agreed to do."

In other words, it's a PR exercise to calm the angry pubic mind at their favourite forest paths being fenced off and excluded to them by private owners.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/20...t-sell-off

England forests sell-off: Government outlines plans
Environment secretary launches three-month consultation on intended £250m sale of England's forests and woodlands

England's forests: the time to act is now

John Vidal, environment editor
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 27 January 2011 12.53 GMT



The government has outlined plans to sell off England's public forests.

The government today outlined plans to sell off public forests in the biggest change in land ownership for more than 80 years.

England's premier "heritage" woodlands such as the Forest of Dean and the New Forest will be handed free to a new national charity or to exiting charitable trusts to manage in the national interest, said the environment secretary, Caroline Spelman. But communities and environment groups will be invited to buy tens of thousands of hectares of land at the market rate which they will be able to run them themselves. In addition, large areas of commercial woodland will be sold on 150-year leases to companies.

The forests sell-off could raise £150-250m over 10 years but should not affect existing access rights or environmental quality, said Spelman, launching a three-month consultation on the intended disposal.

"State control of forests dates back to the first world war, when needs were very different. There's now no reason for the government to be in the business of timber production and forest management. It's time for the government to step back and allow those who are most involved with England's woodlands to play a much greater role in their future," she said.

All 258,000 hectares (ha) of English woodland has been provisionally divided into four categories, ranging from "heritage" to "multi-purpose", "small timber and "large commercial".

Heritage woods, thought to be around 80,000ha in total including the Forest of Dean and the New Forest, will continue to be publicly funded. A new charity is expected to be set up to manage these "jewels in the crown" but organisations such as the Woodland Trust could be invited to take them over.

A further 25% of English woodland will be offered at commercial rates to community groups who will be able to apply for existing grants and will be under no obligation to "improve" facilities. But the long leases they will be offered will on the condition that they maintain existing access.

Large swaths of commercial forest, such as Kielder Forest in Northumberland, will be put on the market on long leases which will force the new owners to continue existing access. According to sources in the government, conditions put on the land could go beyond existing legal minimum and include restoring ancient woodland, maintaining signs and requiring that wood is grown to high certification standards.

But officials at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that there was still considerable uncertainty over whether communities might choose to buy and manage land, as also confusion about the legal access to land that the Forestry Commission presently leases rather than owns outright.

In addition, little consideration appears to have been given to the 25% of the English forestry estate which is health, bog, farmland and quarry.

Moreover, said campaigners, there remains confusion over what happens to forests that are not taken up by communities.

Green groups and trade unions said the plans would be bad for wildlife and the public. Over a quarter of a million people have now signed an online petition opposing the sell-off.

The TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber, said: "The government is barking up the wrong tree with these proposals. Quite rightly, public alarm is growing at the privatisation of our most treasured natural assets. People appreciate the way our forests are managed for the nation by the professional staff of the Forestry Commission. Volunteer foresters or private companies won't do the job as well and the careful balance between timber, public amenity, biodiversity and conservation will be lost."

John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: "Britain's woodlands are precious for millions of people, a source not only of great curiosity but also great fulfilment. They offer important habitats to much loved wildlife, as well as enjoyment and beauty to families up and down the country. It's no surprise that there has been an upswell of public concern at the prospect that our island's natural life might be auctioned off at a government-sponsored jumble sale. The government must now guarantee not only the complete right of access to all our forests but also the budget for their protection and restoration."

But David Cameron's official spokesman said fears were unfounded: "We are not going to sell off our heritage forests to the highest bidder, we are not going to remove public access to forests there will be strict rules in place to prevent that happening. There is a consultation. We are going to have that consultation and listen to people's views and then come to some conclusions."

There is a range of potential buyers for forests, from the private sector to community groups, said the spokesman.