IT is encouraging to read that our MP mostly agrees with HOOF's campaign aims. But it is most concerning that he disagrees with us on the key issue over who will be in charge of our Forest land and management in the future.

HOOF wants the advice followed from the dozen experts the Government appointed three years ago to find a solution to the future of English forestry. This is to create a group of Guardians to deliver a Parliamentary Charter, oversee our Forests' management, with the ability to say yes or no to land sales, swaps and leasings to commercial operators and developers.

Mark Harper asks who will the Guardians be accountable to; who guards the Guardians? The short answer is: a legally binding Parliamentary Charter.

The longer answer can be found by studying page 50 and 51 of the Independent Panel on Forestry's Final Report, published in July 2012. It can be found online at http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/files/Independent-Panel-on-Forestry-Final-Report1.pdf">http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/files/Independent-Panel-on-Forestry-Final-Report1.pdf

The government, Mr Harper and HOOF all welcomed the recommendations of the panel. But the government is not following them.

Instead, the government proposes the Guardians are sidelined to a watchdog-style body able to "raise the alarm", appeal to the government but not have any legal power – this will allow them as much influence as Ofgem and Ofwat have in regulating the energy and water industries (a negligible amount).

The Panel clearly envisaged the Guardians would deliver the Charter, which would be produced in tandem with new legislation to create a new management body for the public forest estate.

However, the government wants to create a public corporation to own and manage our Forest and others, run by an all-powerful board of directors. Its chairman would be appointed by the environment minister (previously Caroline Spelman, now Owen Paterson). This minister would also be the only person able to halt proposals for change of use of land – for development or commercial operations, for instance – or the sale or disposal of any land.

HOOF strongly believes this would mean our forests would be at the mercy of any government and future political policy – exactly what the Panel's model aims to prevent.

HOOF believes that if any of the Guardians, as envisaged by the Panel, breached the terms of the Parliamentary Charter – to protect our Forest and also balance the needs of community, conservation and business – there should be a democratic process where they can be recalled.

We would also like to see Guardians democratically elected.

As for the Charter, the government's idea is only to put one in place after installing a board of directors and forming a public corporation.

This means the final contents of the Charter may be determined by whoever is appointed by the government to sit on the board.

We want new legislation to protect our Forest, not endanger it. We hope our MP understands our very real concerns and will support his constituents in this very key issue.

– Hands Off Our Forest steering group.