Restoration of open habitats from woods and forests in England: developing policy

 

These pages show how we are developing Government policy on restoration of open habitats from woods and forests in England.

We are aiming for a policy that delivers changes in the real world - outcomes. Early in the process we will work out how to measure the effectiveness of the policy. We will develop policy options and use evidence to assess which are most likely to work.

We are using an open process throughout, encouraging stakeholders to get involved through a variety of mechanisms and publishing intermediate steps on these pages.

We are leading the process working closely with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Natural England.

Documentation

Restoration of open habitats from woods and forests: Process for developing policy. (PDF 56kb)
Restoration of open habitats from woods and forests: Policy development - Step 1 of 9 (PDF 87kb)

Summary of policy development process

Step	Mechanism	Timescale
1. Fit progress to date into a policy cycle. Policy dev - Step 1 (PDF 87kb)	Forestry Commission England (FCE) to use work to date to produce a paper to define the problem, desired outcomes (including indicators of outcomes) and other issues for consideration and set out policy options.	June 2008
2. Work out implications for delivery mechanisms and collate evidence.	Leads for each delivery mechanism to work out implications. FCE to set out summary of evidence.	August 2008
3. Plan evaluation.	Stakeholder workshop.	Sept 2008
4. Appraise options.
5. Consult.	Formal public consultation.	Oct 08 - Jan 09
6. Make a decision.	Options paper to be submitted to Ministers by FCE.	Feb 2009
7. Produce policy document.	FCE to draft. Timescale dependent on publication of 'The Strategy for England's Trees Woods and Forests' delivery plan and Ministerial response.	March 2009
8. Set up delivery mechanisms.	Depends on policy decision but will include a plan for the Forestry Commission Estate.	Depends on policy decision.
9. Launch policy.	Launch at an outdoor event: both the policy and the strategy for the Forestry Commission Estate.	Depends on policy decision.

If you wish to get involved in this process, please contact:

Dominic Driver
Senior Projects Officer, Programme Group, Forestry Commission England
340 Bristol Business Park,
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol
BS16 1EJ

Tel: 0117 906 6003
Mob: 07779 627668
e-mail: dominic.driver@forestry.gsi.gov.uk