Forest sell-off

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by STYRBJORN

The Guvmint have announced plans to scrap legislation protecting wild-life and the environment. See vole-woman's thread in campaigns &c for 38* petition against this. I'm not sure what the Guvmint game-plan is; they must realise that this is going to get up people's noses as much as the sell-off but sign up anyway!

Ric

have the guvmint actually formally annouced that policy then ? I thought 38 deg ( a well known left wing campaign group who opose the govt on principal) were reffering to some recomendations/scenarios made in a leaked memo as to policies the govt could adopt to reduce red tape, not actual announced policy.

(my feeling as a nature conservation proffesional is that red tape could definitely be reduced without reducing protection- but an ammendment act would be more appropriate than repeal)

[ForestPaul]

Originally Posted by eeyore

have the guvmint actually formally annouced that policy then ?

No. What they have done is 'launch an initiative' (to use political speak) to reduce the amount of legislation in general and have set up a website - The Red Tape Challenge - where the public can give their feedback about which regulations they want to keep and which they want to go. In their words

This website is for you to tell us which regulations are working and which are not; what should be scrapped, what should be saved and what should be simplified.

So if people are concerned why not give their feedback directly ?
If you look at the page relating to environmental regulations you'll see that lots of people have already done that and most are strongly in support of keeping such legislation.

[Sneezewort]

There is also a government consultation currently going on to review statutory duties of local authorities - I have been submitting to it on another issue but there were a number of sections listed relating to the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

This consultation is being carried out by the Department for Communities and Local Government (Mr Pickles et al) and closes on Easter Monday 25th April.

This is the link to the main page, from where you can access the list of statutory duties (these come up as spreadsheet pages) and the web form for responding to the consultation.

Review of statutory duties placed on local government - Local government - Department for Communities and Local Government

Julie

[Sneezewort]

I know very many people on WAB were involved in March this year when the Government proposed selling off the Public Forest Estate.

I see the Independent Panel on Forestry is now calling for us to give our views.

It wants to draw in the widest range of views, interest and expertise and so is now asking everyone interested in forests and woods to share their views and join in a public conversation. The Panel’s findings and advice will be presented in a final report in April 2012.

Independent Panel on Forestry Defra

This 'call for views' period ends on July 31st.

I think it is very important that we all keep reiterating our points of view on this issue to the government - it appears our next opportunity is via this review by the 'Independent Panel on Forestry'.

Julie

[SheffieldLass]

Thanks Julie for the info and link. I'll be circulating it to people who I know who are interested.

[STYRBJORN]

Also check out the Woodland Trust site.

[Sneezewort]

"Forestry sell-off plan overlooked benefits, panel says

Another blow to government's green credentials as report says public owned forests and woodlands are 'greatly undervalued'"

Forestry sell-off plan overlooked benefits, panel says | Politics | The Guardian


So would you believe it - woods are good for us after all

... thought I'd share this article I have just read on the Guardian about the Forestry Panel report outcomes.

Julie

[SheffieldLass]

Excellent.

I'm glad the forestry panel could see the wood for the trees. Or should that be the wood and the trees ...

[SheffieldLass]

Here is a link to download the Progress Report:

Forestry Panel – Progress Report | Save Our Woods