WORDS from Mr Jim Paice MP, Minister of State for

Agriculture and Food, quote: "We envisage a managed

programme of reform to further develop a competitive,

thriving and resilient forestry sector that includes many

sustainably managed woods operating as parts of viable

land-based businesses" unquote.

Yet we already have a thriving and resilient forestry

sector on Crown and Common Land managed by the

Forestry Commission on behalf of Mr Paice and the

nation. It meets most of the Paice objectives and exceeds

them in a number of ways.

If the Minister feels that it is failing in certain ways

then surely it is for his department to make a better job of

managing this sphere?

Providing safe access to the wild, free forests of

England in public ownership, it makes a valuable

contribution to tourism. And, in tandem it provides a vital

resource for folk to enjoy exercise, relaxation and such

simple pleasure.

The Commission fills an important role in education

by welcoming school and student parties, so that they

may be aware of the true value and importance of the

nation's woodland heritage. It partly self-funds by timber

production.

The Paice proposals amount ot this; selling into

private ownership the 18 per cent of England's public-

owned forests, putting them beyond reach of day to day

government influence; much as the 82 per cent currently

privately owned sector stands.

Many of the Minister's stated policy goals will thus

become irrelevant. The Commission's role is to be

reduced to little more than a paper shuffling bureaucracy,

neatly writing off the most valuable tool he has to apply

long term national strategies in this area.

At a stroke, the Minister is stifling the best hope we

have of maintaining the bio-diversity of our woodlands

and harnessing the carbon absorptive nature of trees to

confront global warming.

Abroad we exhort poorer nations to make a top

priority of using their forest resources to combat climate

change. At home we make exploitation for profit our top

priority!

– Darrell Lawrence, Lancaster Drive, Lydney.