Ideal Queen's Speech: Establish new public forest estate management body

"My Government will introduce a Bill establishing a new, operationally-independent Public Forest Estate management body to hold the Public Forest Estate in trust for the nation "

The Woodland Trustrecently launched a public campaign to ask Government to include a Forestry Bill in their legislative programme for next year. This would not only demonstrate a clear commitment to placing our public forests on a sustainable footing for the future, but would allow us all to move on from the difficult events of 2011.

In 2011, the Government signalled an intention to sell off a significant proportion of the Public Forest Estate (PFE) and, in response, many politicians, community groups, forestry stakeholders and members of the public campaigned for the PFE to stay in public ownership. In direct response, Government confirmed that the sale would be halted and established the Independent Forestry Panel to advise on the future direction of forestry and woodland policy in England.

The Government published their Forestry and Woodlands Policy Statement in January 2013, which took on board the majority of the Panel’s recommendations. The centrepiece was a key promise that the PFE in England would remain in public ownership, led by a strengthened new management body, established in statute, to hold the Estate in trust for the nation.

The Woodland Trustwholeheartedly welcomes this ambition; however, we still await the legislation required to make it a reality.

We believe there is sufficient time within next year’s legislative programme to allow for a draft Bill to be published for full Pre-Legislative Scrutiny in advance of the 2015 General Election. Without this commitment, we are concerned that it may not be deemed a priority for any incoming Government in June 2015, and would therefore slip further back. We urge Government to seize this important opportunity.