Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman’s u-turn on the privatisation of Britain’s forests, following recommendations by an independent panel report which recommended that the forests remain in public hands, has been welcomed today by the Green Party. The report concluded that the proposed forest sell-off had seriously underestimated the benefits woodland provide for people, nature and the economy[1].
Green MP Caroline Lucas, who has been in the forefront of the parliamentary campaign against the sell-off, said:
“Yesterday's announcement that the Government will not be selling off our public forests is an incredible victory for the many groups and individuals that joined forces to protect the forest estate for people to enjoy today and for future generations. Questions about the management and funding of the estate remain, though. There is a real risk that the Forestry Commission’s ability to evolve and build upon its track record of innovation and value for money will be hampered by current cuts to its budget and by job losses – the Government must now promise that there will be no further cuts to the Commission’s budget and staff. The Coalition must also assure us that it has no intention of using PFI funding to raze our treasured forests to the ground and allow yet another public asset to be stripped by the private sector.”
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/04/no-sell-off-forests-spelman