Isra-Mart srl:Government stays forestry axe - for now

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Isra-Mart srl news:

The government has today put the sale of 15 per cent of England's publicly owned forests on hold while it reviews the criteria for selling them following weeks of protests from environmental campaigners.

The government committed to selling off the land owned by the Forestry Commission by the end of the current parliament in last year's spending review.

The move was then followed by the publication of a consultation document late last month that prompted outcry from green groups and countryside campaigners by including proposals that would allow the government to offload the remaining 85 per cent of publicly owned forests to private companies, communities and charitable trusts.

In what is sure to be seen as a reaction to the protests and petitions against the government's sell-off plans, environment secretary Caroline Spelman today told parliament that the sale of the initial 15 per cent of land would not go ahead until protection for access, biodiversity and public benefit is "strongly strengthened".

"In light of the government commitment to increase protection for access and public benefit in our woodlands, the criteria for these sales will be reviewed so that protections are significantly strengthened following the inadequate measures that were applied to sales under the previous administration," she said. "Pending this review, no individual woodland site will be put on the market."

A Defra spokeswoman confirmed the review would not affect the ongoing consultation concerning the future of the rest of England's public forest estate.

David Babb, executive director of campaign group 38 Degrees, told news agency the Press Association that while the postponement was welcome, the group would continue lobbying to save the forests.

"We will keep up the pressure as long as the government is still pushing through a law that allows them to sell off up to 100 per cent of our forests," he said. "If [prime minister David] Cameron really wants to show that he is listening, he will now stop pushing through the legal changes that pave the way for privatisation. As long as those laws are being pushed through, our forests are still in danger."