Future of Forest of Dean plans 'welcomed' by campaigners

The report concluded that state-owned forests should remain in public ownership

Campaigners in the Forest of Dean have given a cautious welcome to the <link> <caption>findings of an independent report</caption> <altText>findings of an independent report</altText> <url href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/files/Independent-Panel-on-Forestry-Final-Report.pdf" platform="highweb"/> </link> into the way woodlands are run and managed.

The review into what should happen with England's publicly owned forest was set up after a ministerial U-turn on plans to sell off a chunk of its woodlands.

It concluded that state-owned forests should be held in trust for the people.

Rich Daniels, from Hands Off Our Forest (Hoof), said his response to the report was "guarded".

Mr Daniels said: "I think some of the points are very good, but of course they are recommendations and we now need to see the government legislate.

"For example, keeping the public forest as a public forest for us, for the people.

'Wildlife habitats'

"It's a great idea, we have backed it all along. Now we need to see legislation to back it up."

The Independent Forestry Panel - headed by the Right Reverend James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool - published its final report on Wednesday.

The 72-page document said governments had failed to appreciate the full value of what forests provided, such as clean air and water, wildlife habitats, shade, soil stabilisation, and a place for people to nurture their physical and mental health.

It also concluded that woodlands could help "drive a sustainable economic revival".

Forest of Dean chief verderer Bob Jenkins, who is responsible for protecting trees and wildlife, said: "It does appear that a lot of the Forest of Dean, like many other forests, will remain in public ownership and the coverage of forest in the UK will also increase.

"That can't be a bad thing provided it doesn't go against us."

The government said it accepted the recommendations of the report and would halt plans to sell-off state-owned forests.