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News Release from: Forestry Commission | Subject: Environmental work
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 November 2006
Green light for boosting forest
environment
Forestry Commission Scotland given green light to raising the bar on environmental work carried on national forest land, following the publication of an independent review.
Scottish Forestry Minister, Rhona Brankin, has given Forestry Commission Scotland the green light to raising the bar on environmental work carried on national forest land, following the publication of an independent review Last year, Forestry Commission Scotland commissioned an independent review of its environmental work with the aim of exploring an even more ambitious way of working
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 23 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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A review group was set up, chaired by leading environmentalist and former Director of WWF Scotland, Simon Pepper and made up of RSPB, the Woodland Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage and an independent woodland consultant.
They have produced a comprehensive report, which will help the Commission deliver environmental work on a higher level.
The group put forward a large number of useful recommendations covering the span of the Commission's work, involving ancient and native woodlands, management of large scale landscapes, climate change mitigation, forest planning and a long term vision for national forest land.
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The report states that the Commission has a key role to "inspire, influence and engage" others, contributing to the raising of standards for the benefit of the whole land use sector.
Welcoming the publication of the review, Rhona Brankin, Scottish Forestry Minister said: "As the largest land manager in Scotland, the Commission has an important strategic role to play in raising standards amongst land managers".
"It also plays a vital role in delivering many of the policies that the Scottish Executive produce for the benefit of people, the economy and the wider environment".
""The work of the review group has been very comprehensive and will be a great asset in helping Forestry Commission Scotland raise its environmental agenda to the next level".
The review group said that the Commission has made "spectacular progress" in large-scale landscape restoration projects such as those in Glen Affric, Glengarry and in the famous Sunart Oakwoods on the Ardnarmurchan Peninsula".
"Not only had the Commission transformed and repaired these landscapes to their original form, but they had also developed the social and economic benefits of these projects with local communities".
"Another key recommendation to help the Commission maximise its environmental potential is to prepare a long-term vision for the future use of the whole national forest estate".
"The Commission has agreed to work on a vision, building on the new Scottish Forestry Strategy, which will pull together priorities; review current performance indicators and enhance evaluation procedures".
"Chairman of the Environment Review Group, Simon Pepper, said: "Forestry Commission Scotland has made remarkable progress over recent years in giving a much higher priority to environmental issues.
I'm delighted that many of our recommendations are taking root, raising the standard even further".
The management of the nation's forests and woodlands in Scotland is carried out by the Commission's agency, Forest Enterprise Scotland".
"Its Chief Executive Hugh Insley added: "We welcome this report and agree with the main thrust and identification of areas where we can increase the environmental outputs from the national forest estate".
""The recommendations by the review group will be very useful in helping us implement more ambitious environmental work and balance this with the delivery of economic and social benefits for the public".
The full Environment Review Group report and Forestry Commission Scotland response is available online.
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