Government retains Forestry Commission England
9 July 2013The government has decided to retain Forestry Commission England as a separate entity in a move welcomed by Confor as “right” for the forestry and timber sector.
The government had been considering merging the body with Natural England or the Environment Agency but announced in the “Review of forestry functions and organisational arrangements for their delivery in England” that it had shelved the plan.
Confor said the news was good for English forestry and showed ministers had listened to representations by the industry and environmental groups.
Confor had feared that a merger similar to the path taken in Wales would see forestry decline in significance, with the threat of forestry expertise being lost.
In April, Confor and the Woodland Trust brought together 17 signatories to a letter to environment minister Owen Paterson, urging him to ditch merger plans.
“Confor believes this is the right decision for the forestry and timber sector, which benefits from the Forestry Commission’s particular expertise, knowledge and facilitation,” said Caroline Harrison, Confor England manager.
