The Government's Vision
The Government is committed to being the "greenest government ever".
The health and prosperity of England's woodlands, forests and trees are essential to our own wellbeing and prosperity. They are a valuable asset and resource, providing important services including; wildlife habitats, building materials, woodfuels, carbon stores, places for outdoor recreation, places to work and income for woodland owners as well as helping to support sustainable rural communities.
They enhance our landscapes and form vital 'green lungs' for our towns and cities providing space to relax and exercise and to find respite from excess noise and heat.
The current review being undertaken by the Independent Panel on Forestry will ensure that our woodlands and forests have the correct level of protection and support to continue to be places that people can enjoy for hundreds of years to come.
Delivering the Vision - Our Role
The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible for protecting and expanding forests and woodlands and increasing their value to society and the environment.
In England we work with a wide range of partners—other government bodies, private sector businesses, charities and civil society organisations—to deliver the functions and priorities set out in Defra's Business Plan and which reflect the role that England's trees, woods and forests have in delivering the priorities as set out. During 2011-15 we will focus on:
- Protection: protecting the woodland resource and increasing its resilience, for example, to pests, diseases and the impact of climate change;
- Improvement: improving the woodland resource to enhance benefits including biodiversity, landscape quality and a range of other ecosystem services;
- Expansion: Promote and incentivise the planting and natural regeneration of trees, woods and forests of the right type in the right place.
We will deliver this by:
- Empowerment and Engagement: empowering and enabling people to engage with trees, woods and forests, so that they can determine the benefits that they wish to see delivered;
- Economic Activity: promoting a competitive, thriving and resilient forestry sector alongside a wide range of private sector business partners.
Our key functions will include carrying out statutory regulatory functions (for example in relation to tree felling, plant health and environmental impact assessment), managing the Public Forest Estate and grant schemes, and providing expert advice (both nationally and locally). In addition there are new or increasing areas of activity, such as biosecurity, the Big Tree Plant, leading the work of the Woodland Carbon Task Force, promoting sustainable alternative energy sources and engagement with Big Society. We shall also work to ensure that woodlands can adapt to, and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
In addition, key functions of the Forestry Commission that currently operate at a Great Britain level will continue: these include provision of research, Great Britain-wide plant health responsibilities, and custodianship of the UK Forestry Standard.
