UK: Forestry Commission is not following policies to protect Wales’ indigenous woodlands
The Forestry Commission is not following policies to protect Wales’
indigenous woodlands closely enough, according to a tree charity. Coed
Cadw – the Woodland Trust in Wales – says clear-felling, cutting down
all the trees in an area, is harmful to habitats and wildlife. The
Forestry Commission said it was increasing broadleaf tree planting and
clear-felling could help as a catalyst. The assembly government is
expected to make a woodland announcement in 2009. The Labour-Plaid
coalition agreement promised to support indigenous woods and create a
Welsh national forest. Rory Francis, from Coed Cadw, said that
clear-felling was harming Wentwood Forest near Newport, one of Wales’
largest ancient woodlands. “The problem is that the old policies are
still being followed and there are parts of Wentwood where you can see
clear-felling has happened, you can see damaging ground preparation.
“We understand whole new crops of conifers will be planted and that’s
caused more problems already – it looks ugly, it’s unpopular, but that
new crop of conifers will destroy even more of those ancient woodland
relics that make the place special.” Around 900 acres of Wentwood
Forest is owned and managed by Coed Cadw. It also harvests trees
commercially, but it believes clear-felling for possible replacement
with more conifers goes against the assembly government’s aims. The
One Wales coalition document agrees to provide support for indigenous
woodlands and help to create a “Welsh national forest of native trees
to act as a carbon sink.” Neil Stoddart, a forest district manager for
the Forestry Commission at Llandovery in Carmarthenshire, said
although conifer production was an important part of rural economic
development, it could be balanced with environmental gains.
“Clear-felling on ancient woodland sites allows the forest manager to
ensure that whilst we don’t damage any remnants, we are able to act as
a catalyst and ensure we put some broadleaf woodland back in a shorter
timescale. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7784469.stm
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