Forestry Commission Wales acts as the Welsh Assembly Government’s (WAG) Department of Forestry. We are responsible for managing the 38% of Welsh woodlands owned by the Assembly Government.
We advise, on their behalf, on the development of forestry policy and its implementation. We also encourage sustainable woodland management within the private sector and are responsible for administering grants and regulatory work, including licensing for felling and replanting.
The Assembly Government Minister with responsibility for forestry in Wales is Elin Jones.
Our purpose and direction
Our purpose and direction is our corporate plan. It sets out what we want to achieve for the next 3 years, and how we will measure our performance.
Funding
In addition to funding from WAG we generate income from the Assembly woodlands via timber production and other activities.
Working with the Welsh Assembly Government
We are directed by Welsh Ministers through our Board of Commissioners and our National Committee for Wales.
We work closely with the Welsh Assembly Government, particularly the Department for Rural Affairs (D for RA) to deliver 'Woodlands for Wales', the National Assembly's Strategy for Trees and Woodlands, alongside the many other public, private and voluntary partners. The Woodland Strategy Advisory Panel was formed in 2005 to advise the National Committee for Wales on developing forestry policy and the monitoring of the Wales Woodland Strategy.
