disease outbreaks and to support landscape
recovery, building a more resilient treescape
with improved innovation in tree breeding (for
resistance) and increased uptake in biosecure
practices across the tree industries. “During
the Agricultural Transition, implementing
innovative pilot schemes could improve tree
health outcomes and inform whether it should
be supported under future [ELM] schemes.”
He wonders how to simplify the Countryside
Stewardship and how to increase uptake to
support the development of future schemes,
and concludes, “Outputs and ideas from today
will be included in the consultation’s analysis.”
The consultation closes on May 8th. Anyone
wanting to contribute should do so.
Defra’s Deputy Director Fiona Harrison is in
the audience. Having had forestry policy under
her remit for two weeks now, she says that she
is looking forward to getting up to speed with
some of the challenges and solutions in this
area.
Addressing ‘The opportunities for forestry
in Michael Gove’s Green Brexit,’ Forestry
Commission Chair Sir Harry Studholme says,
“Brexit has not (yet) damaged forestry, largely
because a low pound creates strong timber
prices, and timber (aside from planting) is
a relatively unsubsidised part of the rural
environment.”
“The 25-Year Environmental Plan is
a statement providing many forestry
opportunities: for a national tree champion; for
woodlands and their sustainable benefits; for
urban forestry.”
“Heath and Harmony is a CAP consultation.Left to right: Chris Davies, MP; Guy Horsington (Defra Future Farming Directorate); Fiona Harrison (Deputy Director, Defra); Paula
Reading (Defra); Stuart Goodall (Chief Executive, Confor); Sir Harry Studholme (Chair, FC); Simon Hodgson (Chief Executive, FC).
It asks fascinating questions for forestry.
Under the CAP, landowners and farming
businesses have had a policy divide
between farming and forestry. Re-imagining
agricultural subsidies, policy statements
have been made about maintaining the level
of subsidy but this is likely to change. It is
not just about jobs or timber. Public money
for public goods means biodiversity, carbon
sequestration, improvement of public access,
wellbeing, rural resilience, diversity in the
landscape. Forestry delivers all of these.”
“The Health and Harmony ‘Compendium’
(page 59) states that for every £1 of support
put in, the Countryside Stewardship provides
£3.60 back in public benefits. Forestry
management provides £5.60. Forestry creation
is slightly worse at £3.20, but still considerable.
The questions [in the consultation] are framed
in terms of agriculture, but many have forestry
answers.
“Forestry as a business has come of age.
Post-WW2 plantings form the backdrop for our
industry and the South East broadleaf forests
now support biomass processing. Forestry is
not a derelict part of the economy. It needs to
be looked at and a [thought] transition needs
to take place. Support for farming skills and
access to the right machinery applies equally
to forestry. I am pleased Defra has included
tree health. Tree diseases are top of the
Defra ‘Risk Register’. They are our biggest
concern and the most visible. Ash disease hits
everyone.
“International trade is important for forestry.
One major driver for forestry used to be the
need to reduce our balance-of-payments
deficit. That remains true. It is easier to sell
trees grown for the internal market.”
He concludes, “It will be difficult to design
and support us out of the current landscape
and Defra’s consultation questions are
genuine. They are working hard to build a
strategy for a future prosperous rural economy
with forestry at its heart.”
Answering Chris Davies MP on the ‘Save
Mortimer Forest’ campaign, he says, “We are