Member News
3rd February 2011The Woodland Trust offers its review of the Opposition day debate on the public forest estate.
During a fractious and hotly contested Opposition Day debate on the future of the public forest estate, all sides of the House did at least agree on the principle that any future changes to the ownership of our national forests must not compromise the protection of ancient woodland.
This reflects a growing consensus on the issue – in the week since the public consultation on the public forest estate was launched, nearly 100,000 people have signed the Woodland Trust's petition to save our ancient forests. Given the public concerns, it is vital that the government enhances protection for our ancient woodland heritage and restores those ancient woods degraded by the planting of non-native conifers.
Ancient woods are our equivalent to the rainforest: they represent a mere two per cent of the total land area, they are valued by people, and once lost cannot be recreated. They are under threat, however – in the last decade the Woodland Trust has contested 350 cases involving 850 ancient woods that were at risk of being destroyed or degraded. It is therefore welcome that secretary of state Caroline Spelman used the debate to publicly acknowledge the need to increase the protection afforded to ancient woodland. There should be no further loss in the area of ancient woodland, regardless of ownership.
Restoring ancient woodland degraded by the planting of non-native conifers is the most important contribution that can be made to enhancing woodland biodiversity. Notably the government is committed to ensuring that its proposals accelerate the recovery of damaged ancient woodlands. There is currently 49,000 hectares of degraded ancient woodland in public ownership; all of these sites should be restored if the government is to have any hope of achieving its aspiration to be the 'greenest ever'.
Reversing the decline in tree planting, and creating places rich in native woods and trees, should also be a priority. Government ministers confirmed for the benefit of the House that promoting tree planting will become a key objective for the Forestry Commission. Creating new native woodland is an essential action in helping tackle contemporary challenges such as climate, flood prevention and aiding productive agriculture.
In the meantime the Public Bodies Bill continues its passage through Parliament. Any amendments to this legislation should reflect that certain areas of the public forest estate such as ancient woods are special, a part of our heritage and need treating differentially. Similarly, reforms to the planning system currently being debated in Parliament should also afford our woodland heritage additional protection. Only then can the government realistically achieve its environmental ambitions.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
John Harrison
4th Feb 2011 at 10:11 am