Forestry Commission plan to protect English landscapes
Making sure that trees, woods and forests are playing their part to
protect and improve English landscapes is at heart of a five year action
plan is published by the Forestry Commission today. It will support the
Government to meet its commitments under the European Landscape
Convention (ELC).
Through this plan the Forestry Commission will have a better idea how
well woodland landscapes are planned and protected on the land it
manages on behalf of the public. It will also establish what needs to be
done to improve policies, guidance and standards as well as improving
practical knowledge and skills across the whole forestry sector.
The plan aims to make sure that the role of trees in our important
environmental and cultural landscapes are properly considered and
genuinely involve local people and communities in decisions that will
affect what they will see around them every day for decades to come.
Factors that impact on the future of our woodlands include adapting to
the needs of wildlife, the effects of climate change on our landscape
and the changing recreational requirements, such as cycling, concerts
and other organised events.
Roger Worthington, a landscape architect for the Forestry Commission,
said:
“The Forestry Commission already has a lot of experience of considering
how trees affect the countryside at a landscape-scale. For example our
Forest Design Plans are sensitive to surrounding landscapes and involve
consultation with local communities and industry professionals. They
are prepared to create multi-purpose forestry for the future and plan
for managing recreation, productive timber, and protecting ancient
woodlands and open habitats such as heathland.
“It will help us to understand what we and others are already doing well
and identify where we need to improve.”
1. The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible in
England for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable
management of woods and forests and increasing their value to society
and the environment. Forestry makes a real contribution to sustainable
development, providing social and environmental benefits arising from
planting and managing attractive, as well as productive, woodlands.
Further information can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/england2. The Forestry Commission’s action plan for the European Landscape
Convention can be downloaded from LINK 3. The European Landscape
Convention (ELC) was signed by the UK Government in 2006 and came in to
force in 2007. Further information can be found at
http://www.landscapecharacter.org.uk/elc