Government Forestry Policy

 

A strategy for England's Trees, Woods and Forests (published 2007)

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published ‘A Strategy for England's Trees, Woods and Forests’ (The ETWF Strategy) in June 2007. This is the Government’s renewed strategy for trees, woods and forestry in England.  The ETWF Strategy was developed after an extensive public consultation process. The strategic Aims and Objectives have therefore been set, as has the rationale for the Draft Delivery Plan content.

Forestry Commission England will play a key role in delivering the strategy in partnership with Natural England. The ETWF Strategy document is available on the Defra website.

Some of the woodland work undertaken around the country in recent years is highlighted in a short publication, Growing Futures (PDF 1.8 Mb)

Policy context for ETWF

The ETWF Strategy embraces a number of new policy directions like climate change as well as policy updates in environmental and social issues across Government. It has been strongly influenced by regional aspirations for the local delivery of benefits from trees, woods and forests.

The ETWF Strategy builds upon the firm foundations of its successful predecessor The England Forestry Strategy (PDF 1.38 Mb) which was published in 1998 and was the subject of a full Review (PDF 273 kb) in 2006.

Significant, government led work has been done at Regional level to develop Regional Forestry Frameworks since 2003.

In 2004, the Defra family of organisations (Defra, Forestry Commission, English Nature (now part of Natural England), The Rural Development Service and The Countryside Agency) produced a 3-year Action Plan (PDF 359 kb) to encourage and support the sustainable management of wild deer in England. This was to help reduce the threat from these animals to our most valuable woodland habitats.

Defra and The Forestry Commission published the Keepers of Time Statement in 2005 to update the Government’s policy towards England’s Ancient and Semi-Natural Woodlands. This Statement re-emphasised their value, evaluated threats and opportunities and set out a range of actions to improve their protection and quality.