The UK government has announced it has committed to spending £100 million on international forestry projects despite confirming plans it is looking to sell off 2.5 million acres of its own woodland to private buyers.
The decision to sell off England's natural woodland was confirmed in a letter to MPs from Defra last week, which stated the plans would “shift the balance of power from ‘Big Government’ to ‘Big Society’”.
But the announcement was questionned by environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth, which said the value of the forests to the nation was worth far more than the cash raised through the sell-off.
Director of Policy and Campaigns at Friends of the Earth, Craig Bennett added: "The Government claims its motivation behind these proposals is to increase community involvement in the management of woodlands and forests - but if its real intention is to sell off much loved sites to make a quick buck, its vision of a Big Society is somewhat questionable.
"Forests are worth less in hard cash to the Government than their value to the nation, which is priceless. A lot of Forestry Commission land is critically important for wildlife conservation, for regulating our climate and protecting us from flooding - as well as being beautiful places for us to enjoy.
"Friends of the Earth spent many years campaigning for strong legislation which should continue to protect our most important wildlife sites - whoever owns them.
"But all areas of woodland and countryside need careful management to maxmise their benefits for wildlife and people, and until the Government is able to show how this will be achieved in private hands, we think they should remain in public ownership."
Ironically, just days before the Defra letter was released the government's environment chiefs announced it was spending £100 million to international forestry projects abroad, which provide specific benefits for biodiversity.
The money comes from the new international climate finance included in the Comprehensive Spending Review, which will include new money for the UK’s contribution to REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), a programme which aims to prevent the loss of forests in developing countries.
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman confirmed the money will help fund pioneering projects which focus on delivering benefits for the natural environment such as reducing the destruction of habitats and the loss of plants and animals through tackling the fragmentation and degradation of forests.
Speaking at the Nagoya conference in Japan, where 193 countries are set new targets to protect the natural environment, Mrs Spelman said: “Tackling deforestation is critical if we are to be successful in our goals to protect biodiversity, tackle climate change and reduce global poverty.
“Forests are home to over half of the world’s plants and animals, and support the livelihoods of over one billion people, while deforestation accounts for almost a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions.
“With so much at stake, the UK Government believes it’s time to establish a substantial and longstanding financial commitment to REDD+ to protect the world’s forests and the plants and animals that live in them.”
However, on Friday MPs received the letter confirming England was to dispose of millions of acres of public forestry estate as it sought a “greater role for private and civil society partners”.
The letter added: “We will not compromise the protection of our most valuable and biodiverse forests. Full measures will remain in place to preserve the public benefits of woods and forests under any new ownership arrangements.
“Tree felling is controlled through the licensing system managed by the Forestry Commission, public rights of way and access will be unaffected, statutory protection for wildlife will remain in force and there will be grant incentives for new planting that can be applied for.”
Fred Jackson, England around 1 year, 5 months ago