FC Wales will become part of a new body from April 1, and the position of director-general will be replaced with new management and governance arrangements for the FC across Great Britain and in England.
FC chair Pam Warhurst said Mr Rollinson had done a tremendous job through a period of extraordinary change.
"He has kept the FC strong and purposeful as forestry responsibilities have been increasingly devolved to each country, championing the organisation’s world-leading science and forestry expertise, but also enabling closer links with the three governments to be fostered," she said.
"He has also brought sustainable forestry to a global stage and shown great leadership on the protection of forests from the impacts of climate change, pests and diseases. We will miss his pragmatism, his expertise and his integrity."
Mr Rollinson said he was proud to lead "such a skilled and dedicated organisation through a challenging period". The creation of a new environment body in Wales and the government responding to the Independent Forestry Panel’s report meant next year was a natural time to leave the FC, he added.
Mr Rollinson is leading the transition to new management and governance for the FC. He is also leading FC England’s input to the government’s response to the Independent Panel on Forestry’s final report, which is expected in January.
FC England will recruit a country director to lead it through transition following the government’s response to the report. Central and shared services will be run by a new director of central services.
