Forestry Bill moves to next stage

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has confirmed that the Forestry Bill, has passed its Committee Stage at the Assembly.

The Minister made the announcement following agreement from the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. Commenting on the progress made, she said: “The Forestry Bill has now passed an important milestone. This is the result of a very positive process of dialogue between the Committee and my Department. I also want to mention the important contribution of stakeholders in helping us produce a well balanced Bill to support the vision and responsibilities of a modern Forestry Strategy.”

The Bill will contain powers to expand forest cover in the north of Ireland, support sustainable management of existing forests, promote biodiversity, address climate change and promote recreation and tourism.

Placing emphasis on the diverse benefits and potential that forests have to offer, the Minister said: “Our forests offer great potential for increasing recreation, tourism, rural development, sport, health and educational opportunities. I want to realise that potential, recently articulated in my launch of the Forest Service’s Recreation and Social Use Strategy. I would like to see more use of our forests.

“This means we must actively promote and market our forests. We will need to engage with local councils, local communities and the private sector to encourage their greater use for quiet individual enjoyment or for organised events. This work has already begun.”

She added: “There is wide recognition that increasing forest cover can enhance the many benefits that forests already provide, ranging from environmental, economic or social. The Forestry Strategy, published in 2006 provides for a balanced approach. This is split between producing commercial timber, protecting the forest environment and providing increased opportunities for forest-based recreation.”

Oulining the provisions of the Bill, the Minister said: “The new Forestry Bill sets a new vision for forestry into the future and provides a set of important provisions, which will allow the full benefits of forestry to be delivered.

“Firstly, it will reintroduce felling licences to support sustainable forestry and contain a new power to obtain better value from the public forest estate. It also allows the Department to engage with public or private partnerships to maximise this opportunity and enables the Department to support woodland creation. The Bill will grant a right of pedestrian access, so that everyone can enjoy what our forests have to offer. This will support the new Recreational and Social Use Strategy for our forests, which I launched last July.”

Notes to editors:

1. Following the introduction of the Forestry Bill to the Assembly on 29 June 2009, the Second Stage of the Bill was agreed on Tuesday 15 September. Committee Stage commenced on 16 September and was extended, through a motion to the Assembly, to 2 March. The Agriculture and Rural Development Committee carried out a detailed investigation including the invitation of written submissions from stakeholders and a series of oral evidence sessions which commenced in November. Officials attended oral evidence scrutiny sessions on 26 January and 1, 8, 15, 22 and 23 February resulting in the agreement of the Committee to the Bill. The Committee will be laying their report before the Assembly in the coming week. The legislation should come into operation in 2010.
2. The Forestry Strategy was developed through two major consultations of the industry and key stakeholders: “Forestry in NI” (June 2002); “Options for Forestry” (December 2004); this culminated in “A Strategy for Sustainability and Growth” (March 2006).
3. The introduction of a Forestry Bill in June 2009 was warmly welcomed by the Department of Environment and the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. The Department of Environment recognises that the Bill will help the Department to deliver its biodiversity obligations, and supports its potential to contribute to public access, recreation, tourism and the rural economy. The Department for Enterprise, Trade and Industry welcomed the opportunity provided by the Bill to develop forestry land for purposes such as tourism initiatives.
4. Statutory pedestrian access will not apply to private or other public owned forests.
5. There are nine forest parks in the north of Ireland which provide parking, picnic sites and a range of walks and attractions. In addition, there are over 100 forests that provide some recreational facilities, including woodland walks.
6. The Forest Service manages 76,000ha of forest land, broadly comprised of conifer plantations, open upland areas, broadleaved woodland, open space within forests, and recreational and amenity areas. Management conforms with north of Ireland and British sustainability criteria, and as a result forests provide a balance of economic, environmental and social benefits to the people of the north of Ireland.
7. All media queries to DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.