Those readers who heard me speak three weeks ago at the Wyre Forest Labour Party annual dinner will not be surprised to read today's front page story in the Sunday Telegraph.
I predicted then that Britain's forests were at risk from the Tory Lib Dem government. Here in the West Midlands we have two magnificent areas of woodlands mainly managed by the Forestry Commission - Wyre Forest on the Worcester-Shropshire border and Cannock Chase.
From my work as a rural affairs spokesman in the European Parliament and as a former member of the Forestry Commission's regional advisory committee, I can see just how vulnerable this great national asset is to the slash and burn of an incoming government. A short term decision in woodland management is one that takes thirty years to come to fruition. Hedge fund managers and the other cowboys in the finance world will simply not understand. They will look for profit.
According to the Telegraph:
Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, is expected to announce plans within days to dispose of about half of the 748,000 hectares of woodland overseen by the Forestry Commission by 2020.
The controversial decision will pave the way for a huge expansion in the number of Center Parcs-style holiday villages, golf courses, adventure sites and commercial logging operations throughout Britain as land is sold to private companies.
Legislation which currently governs the treatment of "ancient forests" such as the Forest of Dean and Sherwood Forest is likely to be changed giving private firms the right to cut down trees.
Laws governing Britain's forests were included in the Magna Carta of 1215, and some date back even earlier.
So we now have a fight on our hands.
UPDATE: I'm delighted to see that some brave soul has set up a facebook petition. In just 7 hours it has gained over 400 signatures. I'd urge all readers on facebook to support it.
Legislation which currently governs the treatment of "ancient forests" such as the Forest of Dean and Sherwood Forest is likely to be changed giving private firms the right to cut down trees.
Laws governing Britain's forests were included in the Magna Carta of 1215, and some date back even earlier.
So we now have a fight on our hands.
UPDATE: I'm delighted to see that some brave soul has set up a facebook petition. In just 7 hours it has gained over 400 signatures. I'd urge all readers on facebook to support it.
