Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk
Facts & Figures
Forestry body costs public less than a packet of crisps a year
The public body responsible for managing the UK's forests costs less than the price of a packet of crisps a year for each person in England, says PCS.
Access when a Forestry Commission woodland is sold
Anyone who buys freehold land dedicated under the CRoW Act from the Forestry Commission is required to allow access on foot. The majority of Forestry Commission freehold woods are dedicated under the CRoW Act, however:
- There is no legal requirement to allow access for cycling or horse riding under CRoW.
- The land can be closed for 28 days per year by the private owner and for longer periods if the need can be proven.
- There is no requirement to maintain forest walks, provide car parks or generally encourage and make access easier.
- Not all Forestry Commission woodland is under freehold dedicated under CRoW.
Biodiversity
- 99% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) managed by the Forestry Commission in England are in favourable or recovering condition which is greater than that achieved by any other significant SSSI manager in England in the public, private or charitable sectors. The government target for the end of 2010 was 95%.
Tree felling and replanting when a Forestry Commission wood is sold
- A felling licence is required to fell trees if the owner is wanting to fell more than 5 cubic metres.
- It is up to the new owner how they manage the woodland, what areas they fell and what types of tree they plant.
- The new owner can choose to apply for a grant from the Forestry Commission for replanting and management of the woodland. To receive a grant they have to agree a plan with the Forestry Commission.
- The Government will continue to grant aid private woodlands to the end of the RDPE programme 2013
- All Forestry Commission woodlands have a long term plan, a Forest Design Plan, which sets out how they will manage the woodland and increase its value for wildlife and the public while still producing timber. The Forestry Commission consult on the preparation of these plans.There is no requirement for a new owner to adopt the Forest Design Plan.
Sustainable management
- All Forestry Commission forests are independently certified against the internationally recognised Forestry Stewardship Standard and Pan European Forest Certification. This means that they have to be well managed and the Forestry Commission are regularly audited. The Forestry Commission was the first forest service in the world to have all its woodlands certified as being well managed.
- A new owner is not required to certify their woodlands.
Cost to the Tax Payer
- The cost of having the Forestry Commission manage England’s public forests costs less than 30p per year for each person in England.
- 70% of the costs of managing our public forests in England are offset by commercial revenue.
- In 2009 a detailed study of the long term role of the public forest estate was carried out by the Forestry Commission. It reported that public forests were good value for money providing multiple social and environmental benefits and concluded that public ownership was essential in supporting the estate.
- A recent YouGov poll found that 84% of people agreed the woods and forests should be kept in public ownership for future generations, while only 2% disagreed.
England, Scotland and Wales?
- The Public Bodies Bill seeks to amend the Forestry Act, this act currently restricts the wholescale sale of public woodlands and forests in Great Britain. Although the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales have said they do not intend to sell their public estate at present, the Public Bodies Bill is an enabling legislation, meaning they can sell more easily in the future on the back of this bill if they wish.
- The Public Bodies Bill contains specific allowances to disband the Forestry Commission in Wales to form part of a wider environment body.
- Whilst the immediate threat of sales is in England, it is an issue for all of us in Britain because of the enabling nature of the bill.