Forestry Panel Slam Missed Opportunity on Legislation
ICF has joined a number of leading forestry organisations in criticising the lack of legislation in last week’s Queen’s speech to protect the public forest.
The Independent Panel on Forests wrote an open letter to Government, calling for a manifesto commitment as soon as the General Election was over for ‘protecting and developing the social environmental and economic benefits of forests.
IPF Letter
Sir/Madam
Following the Queen’s Speech it is highly regrettable that nearly two years after the Independent Panel on Forests published its unanimous report the Government has failed to bring forward legislation to protect the public forest estate.
The fierce public debate prompted by the Government’s intentions for the future of the public forest estate demonstrated how important our forests are to the nation. The Independent Panel now urges the Government and all political parties to make a manifesto commitment to legislate as soon as possible after the General Election so that the future of our public forests is assured, protecting and developing the social, environmental and economic benefits of forests.
The letter was signed by members of the Independent Panel on Forests, including:
Rt Rev’d James Jones, Chair of the Panel and former Bishop of Liverpool
Shireen Chambers FICFor FRSA, Executive Director, Institute of Chartered Foresters
Dr Mike Clarke, Chief Executive, RSPB
Tom Franklin, Former Chief Executive, The Ramblers
Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive, Confederation of Forest Industries
Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts
Sue Holden, former Chief Executive, Woodland Trust
Dr Alan Knight, OBE, Environmental Sustainability Director, Business in the Community
Fiona Reynolds, former Director General, National Trust
John Varley, Estates Director, Clinton Devon Estates
William Worsley, Past President, Country Land and Business Association
