This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Consultation on future of forestry
03/12/2003
A national consultation seeking the views of people from
all walks of life about the future of Scotland's forests
was launched today.
It is part of a comprehensive review of the size, nature
and geographic distribution of the almost 667,000 hectares
of forests and other land owned by Scottish Ministers and
managed by Forestry Commission Scotland.
The review is believed to be the first time that the
size, nature and location of Scotland's national forests
have been reviewed since the Commission was founded in
1919.
Its initial remit was to re-establish a strategic
reserve of timber following the First World War, but since
then Forestry Commission Scotland has become the country's
biggest provider of outdoor recreation and nature
conservation as well as the biggest timber supplier.
The review was launched by Forestry Minister Allan
Wilson on August 29.
The consultation document -
Review of Land Managed by Forestry Commission
Scotland - Consultation Paper - summarises current forestry policy, the current
uses of the national forests, and key facts and figures
about them.
It also poses some of the questions and issues on which
Ministers would like to hear people's views including
topics such as:
- the desirability of the Commission providing more
woods and forests near to villages, towns and cities in
order to bring their recreational and social benefits
closer to where people live
- community involvement in forest management and
planning
- the desirability of the Commission buying or
leasing more land and woods
- communities' rights to buy or lease national forest
land
- the emphasis that the Commission should place on
nature conservation and landscape enhancement in
forests' future management
- the potential role for the national forest lands in
the Executive's wider priorities, such as renewable
energy, affordable housing, health and tourism
Mr Wilson said,
"The national forests ultimately belong to the people of
Scotland, and we want to provide the maximum possible
public benefits from them for the people of Scotland.
"It is therefore very important that we have a thorough
understanding of what the public really want from their
woods and forests, so I would encourage anyone with an
interest to read our Consultation Paper and tell us what
they think.
"This applies whether their interest is in timber
production, nature conservation, recreation, community
participation, or any other aspect."
In order to help people formulate their responses,
public meetings will be held at seven venues around
Scotland in January, as follows:
Oban, January 19, 2pm,
telephone 01631 566155 for further information
Dundee, January 20, 6pm
01738 442830
Dingwall, January 22, 2pm
01349 862144
Newtown St Boswells January 23, 2pm
01750 721120
Newton Stewart, January 26, time(s) to be confirmed
01671 402420
Glasgow, January 28, 6.15pm
0141 941 2611
Inverurie, January 29, 1.45pm
01466 794542
Responses to the consultation should be received by
Forestry Commission Scotland by February 27, 2004, and the
review is expected to be completed by the end of April
2004.
The consultation document can be downloaded copies can
be ordered from Kenny Murray, Forestry Commission Scotland,
231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT, telephone 0131
314 6408; fax 0131 314 6152; e-mail:
kenny.murray@forestry.gsi.gov.uk