'No plans' to sell off the Scottish forest estate

'No plans' to sell off the Scottish forest estate

Scotland’s environment minister said today she was worried about the potential sell-off of forestry land south of the border and had asked for talks with her Welsh and English counterparts.

Roseanna Cunningham made the statement at the annual Scottish Forestry Forum in Battleby as she moved to quell rumours that up to half the state-managed forests in Britain were earmarked for disposal.

The Sunday Telegraph reported at the weekend that Westminster’s environment minister Caroline Spelman was planning to offload half of the Forestry Commission’s land. However, as grough reported, the matter is dealt with by the devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland.

Ms Cunningham described media reports as ‘total nonsense and wide of the mark’.

“These reports show a very clear misunderstanding of the devolved nature of forestry across Britain,” she said.

“Forestry has been a devolved matter since April 2003. It is quite clearly a matter for Scottish ministers to determine the future of Forestry Commission Scotland and the national forest estate in Scotland – it is certainly not a decision for Westminster.

“There may be a review of forestry in England but that does not include Scotland. This review has no remit whatsoever north of the border.

“We are certainly living in very difficult and challenging times and with swingeing cuts being imposed on Scotland we need to plan carefully for this.

“The Scottish Government is continuing to look for opportunities to simplify and streamline public bodies in Scotland and Forestry Commission Scotland, along with other public bodies, will be part of that ongoing process.

“However, let me be quite clear, we have no plans to dispose of the national forest estate in Scotland and there is no review of Forestry Commission Scotland being undertaken.”

But the minister said she had been alerted to the implication of the Westminster plans some weeks ago.

Roseanna Cunningham: 'considerable concerns'

Roseanna Cunningham: 'considerable concerns'

“I do have considerable concerns over the review of Forestry Commission England and its potential impact in Scotland therefore I have written to my counterparts in England and Wales to suggest a meeting to discuss issues surrounding forestry.

“The Scottish Government views Scotland’s forests as a source of national pride and an important public asset which can help deliver many benefits in economic, environmental and social terms.”

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said when the proposals were leaked: “If Government plans mean vast areas of valuable forest being sold to private developers, it will be an unforgiveable act of environmental vandalism.”

The British Horse Society also expressed worries that riders would lose the right to use forestry land if it was sold off. A statement by the society said: “Equestrians currently enjoy access to thousands of acres of Forestry Commission forests. While walkers’ access to these forests is enshrined in legislation, access for equestrians is not.

“The loss of any public safe off-road riding is disastrous, but if the opportunity to ride in these forests is lost it will be devastating for many equestrians.”

The society’s director of access, safety and welfare Mark Weston, said: “It is imperative that any sales of such forests only take place subject to a dedication of equestrian access pursuant to section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, so that access for equestrians is protected by legislation just as it is for walkers.”

And although Ms Spelman has been tight-lipped about the Forestry Commission sell-off plans, she confirmed today a commitment to £100m-worth of international forestry projects.

The cash is part of the international climate finance announced by the coalition Government in its comprehensive spending review last week.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the money will help fund pioneering projects which focus on delivering benefits for the natural environment such as reducing the destruction of habitats and the loss of plants and animals through tackling the fragmentation and degradation of forests.

Speaking at the Nagoya conference in Japan, Ms Spelman said: “Tackling deforestation is critical if we are to be successful in our goals to protect biodiversity, tackle climate change and reduce global poverty.

“Forests are home to over half of the world’s plants and animals, and support the livelihoods of over one billion people, while deforestation accounts for almost a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions,” she added.

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