England forestry forum

 

Forestry Minister for England, Elliot Morley announced his intention to set up and chair a Forum to report to him through the Forestry Commission last year when he announced the Government's decision to prepare the Forestry Strategy.

The Forum will meet twice a year. It will share and exchange proposals for implementing the Government's Forestry Strategy for England, and monitor and review progress on implementing the Strategy.

The Forum comprises representatives of a wide range of organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors with interests in forestry, rural affairs, the environment, land use planning, conservation and wildlife, recreation, heritage and archaeology.

The Forum has submitted a wide-ranging series of recommendations to Mr Morley for taking forward the Government's Forestry Strategy for England. Forty-seven recommendations are contained in a series of reports prepared by eight working groups established by the Forum to consider detailed issues relating to implementation of the Forestry Strategy.

Subject areas considered by the working groups include:

• business advice;
• training and support;
• land regeneration;
• regional issues;
• land use planning;
• protection of ancient woodlands;
• community forestry;
• landscape; and
• funding.

The agenda and papers of the first nine meetings are available using the links on the left.

Defra’s Forestry Policy Unit has now assumed responsibility for the Forum.

Papers from meetings which took place from 26th May 2005 onwards are available on the Defra website.