Member News
2nd February 2011The Woodland Trust has urged the government to treat ancient woodland as a "special case", ahead of an Opposition day debate on the public forest estate.
As the House of Commons debates an Opposition day motion on the public forest estate it is important that the debate has a strong focus on ancient woodland – our own equivalent of the rainforest. We need to recognise that global leadership on forest stewardship begins at home.
The Woodland Trust is calling for the government to treat these ancient woods as a special case within its sell-off plans. This means the existing loopholes in protection need to be closed, ensuring that their enormous wildlife importance and public access can be safeguarded no matter who owns the woods in the future. In particular, government needs to put in place guarantees regarding its previous commitments to restore damaged ancient woods planted with conifers before any sales take place.
So far 80,000 people have signed the Trust's campaign petition, 'Save England's Ancient Forests' – just six days after it was launched in response to the publication of the government’s plans. The government needs to respond, recognising that ancient woods are a special case, and put in place measures to ensure their protection and restoration are secure – regardless of ownership.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
Mrs Daphne Claw
2nd Feb 2011 at 11:46 am