Save our Woodland!

So, the government has announced its plans to sell off the nation's publicly owned woodland.  This is obviously a measure designed to raise money to help ease the deficit.  While I am all in favour of cutting the deficit as quickly as possible, I don't believe this is the way to do it. 

There has been a lot of campaigning against the proposed sale and already the government is showing signs of backing down from its decision.  I am not going to repeat arguments why we shouldn't sell the public forests, the arguments for this can be provided elsewhere.  However I would like to propose an argument for why we should keep the woodland.  The value of the woodland is immeasurable and the force of opinion this news is generating is a sign of that.  I also feel there is the potential to create real economic value from the woodland without the privatisation of historic areas.

There is a premise in the government's decision to sell the woodland: private companies would be able to profit from purchasing this woodland.  There are many commercial areas of woodland that are profitable (even discounting the tax relief available on woodland ownership).  The risk is that by letting the forests fall into private hands, the freedoms the public have will be lost.  I am no expert on the Forestry Commission, but from what I can tell it does an adequate job in preserving the woodland it controls for the enjoyment of as many as possible.

If the woodlands at risk of sale have the potential of profit for private companies why not change the remit of the Forestry Commission to begin exploring the revenue streams it could create through its own woodland?  I am not talking about the obvious timber values but other public values it could create.  Why not open centres and tea shops to encourage visitors?  Why not use its existing expertise to run training courses for people interested in forestry and engage with other woodland owners?  Some potential purchasers of the woodland up for grabs, such as The National Trust have mooted such ideas, I would argue that long term value can be created for the public by following these lines or with partnerships rather than a wholesale sell off that will mean the public losing control of this great asset.