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Public Forest Estate is a ‘critical resource’
PFE ‘critical resource’ says Plantlife statement on the future of the English Public Forest Estate
February 16 2011
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The New Forest, one of the National Parks that could be affected. © Beth Newman / Plantlife
“Plantlife believes the English Public Forest Estate (PFE) to be a critical resource in securing the best future for our forest flora. This future is under threat from current Government proposals to sell the estate. In the light of today’s comments by the Prime Minister, we urge the Government to reconsider its proposals and offer to work with Government to find the right solutions.”
Victoria Chester, Chief Executive.
Threatened species
Over a third of England’s local, rare and declining species of flowering plants occur on PFE land, including 95% of the entire UK population of military orchid and key world populations of whitebeam.
These woodlands also provide a mosaic of habitats which are nationally and internationally important not only for flowers, but for many other species. Our preliminary analysis suggests that of the 23 richest forest areas current proposals by the Coalition Government would see over 50% largely or entirely ‘sold’ to private or commercial owners, with substantial elements of a further four botanical ‘hot spots’ similarly disposed of . Put simply, the current proposals call for the sale, in toto or majority part, of 70% of the richest areas for wild plants in the country, with iconic species such as marsh gentian, lady orchid, maiden pink and Dorset Heath likely to become more vulnerable to extinction as a result.
Although some commercial sites have low interest in terms of flora, there are also commercial plantations that play an important role in safeguarding rarer plant species, such as key populations of field wormwood and perennial knawel in Thetford Forest or dwarf birch and tall bog-sedge in unique mire communities in Kielder Forest. Above all, with the right management the PFE has the potential to deliver even more for plants and fungi through its promised restoration programmes for open habitats and ancient woodlands.
Without legislative safeguards and resourcing to guarantee high quality management for wildlife, restoration of open habitats and ancient woodlands, open access and transparent accountability, Plantlife believes the government’s proposals to sell the PFE could render our woodlands dark, sterile and silent. As the nation’s voice for wild plants, we strongly believe that any reform of the Public Forest Estate must secure and enhance rather than threaten the future of hundreds of our most beautiful local, rare and declining species of flora.
Threatened habitats
"Plantlife believes that the best management for biodiversity and people across the PFE can only be secured through a single regulator empowered to enforce standards and to fund delivery of biodiversity and other public benefits."
Andrew Byfield, Plantlife Landscape Conservation Manager.
Plantlife studies indicate that 77% of all Priority flowering plants found within the PFE are species of open habitats. Their future is directly tied to the successful implementation of the Government’s 2010 policy to restore relict areas of open habitat – heathland, calcareous grassland, fen, blanket mire, limestone pavement – that survive within both commercial forestry plantation and heritage woodlands.
Open habitats support a breathtaking array of wildlife but the momentum that has built to implement this ambitious programme will be brought to a halt if new owners are not held accountable and appropriately funded to undertake this for themselves. Plantlife calls for implementation in full of the current Forestry Commission policies on the restoration of open habitats, ancient woodlands and The Woodfuel Strategy for England to be guaranteed and remain a priority.
Plantlife is a supporter of the recent report by Sir John Lawton ‘Making Space for Nature’, which seeks to reconnect our landscapes and wild places to provide a sustainable natural environment that can meet the challenges of climate change for our wildlife and ourselves. The breaking up the PFE appears to be wholly incompatible with the ambitions of the Lawton Report, to the detriment of our national flora. How much more difficult will it be to ensure that this kind of landscape scale restoration takes place when ownership is fragmented into hundreds of private holdings?
“We are deeply concerned at the lack of detail in the consultation on accountability and transparency of the future management of the PFE" says Andrew Byfield, Planbtlife's Landscape Conservation Manager.
"Will new owners be required to meet the best standards of management for biodiversity and other public benefits? Who will hold them to account? Will there be penalties for those responsible for poor management or reduced access? Plantlife believes that the best management for biodiversity and people across the PFE can only be secured through a single regulator empowered to enforce standards and to fund delivery of biodiversity and other public benefits.”
From deepest glade to dappled shade, the bluebells, wild daffodils and primroses of our woodlands inspire millions of visitors every year. This is our unique natural heritage and one we are responsible for passing intact to our children.
Sue Nottingham / Sarah Unitt Press Office T 01722 342757/342739 / E .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Andrew Byfield Plantlife Landscape Conservation Manager T 01752 830577 / 07816 945650