The decision whether to approve a purchase or lease of National Forest Land is made by the Director of Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS). The Director receives a recommendation from an independent evaluation panel made up of seven voting members chosen for their expertise.
The panel is selected through an open recruitment process, and members are paid for their time spent on panel business. FCS provides the panel with a non-voting secretary.
Panel members
The current members of the National Forest Land Scheme Evaluation Panel are:
- Priscilla Gordon-Duff (Chair): landowner with considerable experience of working with communities
- Chris Badenoch: former area manager for Scottish Natural Heritage
- Jon Hollingdale: Chief Executive of the Community Woodlands Association and formerly community forestry manager of the Dunnet Forestry Trust
- Bill Ritchie: heavily involved in the Assynt Crofters' buy out and the recent community right to buy by the Assynt Foundation.
- Bob Stubbs: independent Rural and Forest Industries Consultant and Chairman of the Scottish Forest Industries Advisory Board.
- Shireen Chambers: Executive & Technical Director of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, with a background as a practising forester
- Penny Cousins: sustainable development consultant and former CEO of Millenium Forest.
