Looking after forests used to be relatively straightforward. When the Forestry Commission was originally set up it had one over-riding purpose - to build up Britain's timber resource.
It's not quite as simple as that any more, as society realises the benefits to be gained from its forests and woodlands. It's still about producing timber, but it's also about places to go, things to do, landscapes to admire and habitats for plants and animals.
The business we are in now - sustainable forest management - is about all of these things and more. And it's not just about the trees; it's about the part trees and forests can play in making the best use of our land, and about bringing trees and forests closer to people, especially in urban areas.
This means that today's Forestry Commission fulfils a wide variety of roles.
sustainable forest management: looking after our forests and woodlands to ensure they continue to provide social, environmental and economic benefits to our, and future, generations
