AIBU to think that the Government shouldn't be flogging off the country's forests?

[donkeyderby]

fctu.org.uk/saveourforests/index.asp

I received an email today from a Save Our Forests campaigner which read:

'The Government is currently passing legislation, which will enable them to sell of all of the state-owned forests in England - i.e. everything owned and managed by the Forestry Commission (up to 2m acres). This is expected to go through within 2-3 weeks, whereupon the whole lot will be sold to private buyers.

Legislation covering public access will not apply to all public forest estate, and whilst access on foot will be protected in some instances, there is no requirement to allow cycle or horse riding, or to maintain facilities such as car parks, walks and forest trails.

This seems to us to be gross public vandalism, which will seriously harm the environment in which we live - not only from a nature/preservation point of view, but also in terms of our recreation and well-being.'

If you are as horrified by this as I am, please sign the petition

[mylifewithstrangers]

Totally agree with the OP.

But, seriously have to take issue with octopusinabox
"Even if you live in the 'country' it's usually just fields of veg or wheat so hardly real countryside."

Fields of veg & wheat is NOT countryside!!! REALLY! WTF do you think countryside IS then. And howTF do you think the countryside is managed if not by farmers, who have to, surprise, surprise GROW stuff to exist. The British countryside ONLY looks and works like it does because of diligent and hard-working (and not in it for the big bucks) farmers!

[ensure]

How depressing. :(

[bagsofbats]

a link to a facebook page which explains in good detail what is going on

if anyone is keen to find out more

it explains that the public bodies bill which is being passed to enable the sell off will also enable drastic changes to other public bodies without consultation

[ChocolateMoose]

I've already signed the petition, and see that the link you posted suggests writing to your MP as well, so I might do that.

I can't believe people are saying that it is a good idea to sell off ancient forests to companies who are likely to chop them down (how else would they make a profit from them) and would not necessarily have to let people into them, maintain paths etc.

[threefeethighandrising]

From the same article, this sums up my feelings on the big society con better than I could ever put it:

"To preserve our forests costs just 30p per taxpayer a year. Selling them off for ever will raise just half of the sum that one corporation ? Vodafone ? did not have to pay after the Tories came to power out of what Private Eye estimated was its total tax liability. (Vodafone denies this figure). So if you go down to the woods today, you'll find the best metaphor for Cameronism. Change your party's logo to a lovely green tree ? then sell off all the real trees to corporations. Oh, and then say you are "empowering volunteers" by doing it.

The Prime Minister has said the forest sell-off "empowers local communities" to take over the forests for themselves as part of a "Big Society". Yet sources within the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs say that, unsurprisingly, only about 1 per cent of the sales are anticipated to go to local co-operatives or green groups. The "Big Society" is a fluffy fig leaf for dismantling and demolition. "

[threefeethighandrising]

From the Independent article:

"In order to raise £2bn, the Government is selling all 650,000 acres of our forests"

"It is true that once a company has bought a forest, it will still need planning permission to cut the woods down. This is a crucial brake. But ? wait ? Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has just announced he is "remov[ing] the structures of control" and making it "much easier" to get planning permission across the country. Planning is being massively deregulated, just as the forests are sold."

"Not every buyer will cut them down, but some will ... the Government admits there is a "possibility of established forest being bought by energy companies who would proceed to chip it all for energy recovery"

Full article here

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

Thank you for posting this. We use forestry commision land nearly every day and benefit from it hugely. I've emailed our local paper to try to increase awareness on a local level and will be writing to my MP.

[bagsofbats]

Yes you may remember that in the 1980s the FC was split into Forest Enterprise which was the public forest estate and forestry commission which was regulatory grants and licences part.

This was because the tories were trying to sell the public estate off, there was a huge public outcry and they backed off eventually but it went on some years. Its all FC again now.

[Callisto]

Bagofbats - is that true about the Tories trying to sell FC land before? That really suprises me as the Tories of all parties should know the long term value of forest and other non-agricultural land.

I think a letter to my MP may well be in order on this one.

[bagsofbats]

independant article

[bagsofbats]

100% of FC woodlands are managed to the highest standards of sustainable forestry and they set an example to the rest of the forestry sector on how to manage woodlands for the best intrests of both the public and wildlife as well as forestry workers in what used to be an extremely dangerous industry.

In England (because it is only English woods being sold off)60% of timber comes from the 18% woodlands that the FC own demonstrating that few privately owned woodlands are effectively managed. The alternative in imports mostly from scandinavia and canada which will mean the loss of small timber mills in the uk and the loss of an already much reduced industry.

The recreation which we all enjoy takes place alongside production forestry but it is a hassle and private owners won't bother. Any mountainbikers out there? can you think of any bike trails not on FC land in England? there are very few if any (I work in this area and can think of one near Wrexham so it is probably in Wales).

Even if you never visit a woodland they improve the quality of our air and the aesthetics of our landscape. Private landowners often will admit that on paper they consider wildlife in their woodland management but they don't actually do it.

Forestry runs on 50 year cycles and politicians can't see past the next election.

The tories have tried to sell off the woodlands twice before so any arguement that this is because of the state of the economy is convienient but not true.

Rant over

[weedle]

Well we could reach a compromise - get rid of the parts of the new forest that is covered in scrub. It's ugly and there aren't any trees there anyway! Keep the grassy, tree bits. Win, win ;)

[donkeyderby]

No, it doesn't! Sorry

[donkeyderby]

www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-for-sale--camerons-gr

I hope this link works. Johann Hari writing in the Independent about this one

[FiveOrangePips]

I have signed the petition, I live in Scotland, but I think England needs to keep hold of the forests and woodlands, if they need to be financially sustainable then the Government should use their imagination rather than selling them off for private profit.

[pascoe28]

wukter - civil disagreement it is then!

[Callisto]

I really don't like this either. I voted this govt in and I realise the need to save money and make cuts. But this is going too far. I can't see how private enterprise can possibly sustain these forests as just forests. It's very sad and I too have signed.

[NorfolkNChance]

I have signed. We live in an area surrounded by FC maintained forests and I dread to think what will happen to the deer that depend on these forests for their survival.

[threefeethighandrising]

I don't know what to say. This is just so sad.

I've signed the petition, donated some money to the campaign and posted it to my facebook.

It's one thing after another. Will anything be left when they're done?

[wukter]

OTOH you've got the Tories in...

[wukter]

Yup Baroque, me too.
Tongue slightly in cheek.

More likely for us in Ireland - we've got the IMF in!

[2shoes]

yanbu

[BaroqueAroundTheClock]