A radical revamp of the way the Forestry Commission operates has been announced.
The Forest Enterprise management agency is to be split into three sectors covering England, Scotland and Wales, and they will work more closely with organisations such as DEFRA to deliver government policies.
The aim is to achieve greater integration of forestry with other rural policy work at a local level while retaining a collaborative approach on common issues.
The move follows a recent examination of the administrative arrangements for developing sustainable forestry policies post-devolution – the Forestry Devolution Review.
Forestry ministers have agreed the recommendations of the review which will see working practices adapted to increase responsiveness to the needs of England, Scotland and Wales.
Scotland and Wales will have a role in determining research priorities and there will be improved representation for all three countries on the Board of Forestry Commissioners.
A new ministerial committee involving ministers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be set up to deal with international issues and any cross-cutting issues where collaboration would be advantageous – and to monitor the effectiveness of the new arrangements.
Forestry minister Elliott Morley said: “The formation of DEFRA last year created a focal point for the rural development agenda, and policies for farming, tourism, biodiversity and forestry are all interdependent. The new arrangements will further improve our integrated approach to sustainable rural affairs.”
The Forest Industries Development Council is firmly in favour of the change. Chairman Alan Bloomfield said: “The minister’s decision is in line with the advice we gave to the Review Panel and we strongly support this positive and evolutionary approach to change.”
The new arrangements are due to be in place by April 1, 2003.
