The Forestry Commission is both a Government Department and a statutory body with a board of Commissioners. The board consists of a Chair and up to 10 other Forestry Commissioners, who are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of Ministers.
The board meets four times per year. The Commissioners themselves have a number of specific statutory duties and powers, summarised in the Forestry Act as 'promoting the interests of forestry, the development of afforestation and the production and supply of timber and other forest products'. In practice, these mainly relate to incentives and regulation, controls on felling, plant health and managing the public forest estate.
The Commissioners have a legal duty to seek a reasonable balance between the production and supply of timber and the interests of conservation. In promoting the multiple benefits of forestry, they also seek to take careful account of the needs and wishes of people throughout Britain, including local communities.
As forestry is a devolved matter, the Commissioners report separately to Westminster Ministers and Scottish Ministers.
Natural Resources Wales is the new body responsible for forestry in Wales.
Commissioners:
Ian Gambles - Forestry Commissioner, England
Dr Bob McIntosh - Forestry Commissioner, Scotland
Judith Webb - Forestry Commissioner, England
Keith Oates - Forestry Commissioner, England
Hamish Macleod - Forestry Commissioner for Scotland and the timber trade
Amanda Bryan - Forestry Commissioner Scotland
Registers
Forestry Commissioners' Register of Interests
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, April - June 2009 (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, July - Sept 2009 (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Oct - Dec 2009 (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Jan - Mar 2010 (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Apr - June 2010 (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, July - Sept 2010 (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Oct - Dec 2010 (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Jan - Mar 2011 (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Apr - Jun 2011 (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Jul - Dec 2011 (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Jan - Mar 2012. (PDF)
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Apr - Jun 2012
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Jul - Sep 2012
Forestry Commissioners' Business Expenses and Hospitality, Oct - Dec 12