It has invited governments, organisations and individuals to do all they can to raise public awareness of the key role of forests and sustainable forest management in building a greener, more equitable and sustainable future.
How ironic when our Government plans to sell off as much as 150,000 hectares of forest and woodland in England in the biggest sale of public land for nearly 60 years.
Local Woods and Forests that could be under threat in Kent are Clowes Wood, part of The Blean near Canterbury, Kings Wood near Challock and Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest near Cranbrook.
The Forestry Commission has done an excellent job in recent years in making woodlands much more accessible to all of us; whether we are walkers, mountain bikers, wheelchair users or horse-riders. Currently all Forestry Commission land is managed to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards - well above the standards required by law. Higher standards of stewardship mean that even those publicly owned woodlands that deliver substantial profits for the taxpayer through timber are also havens for wildlife. This would not be compulsory with privately owned forests. New owners could fence our forests and would not be required to maintain access paths as they do now.
If you wish to protect our woods and forests for future generations write to your local MP and sign the on-line petition at www.38degrees.org.uk
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