4A long-term strategy for forestry
39.The Independent Panel on Forestry (IPF) in its Final Report acknowledged the particular problems arising from the long-term nature of forestry: “Investment in and management of forests requires a very long-term view and financial security, as actions taken now may only prove their worth in 50–100 years”.70
40.Our witnesses also recognised the long-term nature of forestry, with the Friends of the Forest explaining that there was “a need to put suitable mechanisms in place to avoid “short life” Government administrations [taking] “short-term” decisions in relation to forestry”.71 Indeed, the National Forest Company put some of its success down to having a long-term strategy, which it could implement.72 The National Forest’s current strategy, for example, covers the period 2014–2024,73 and the delivery plan before that covered the period 2009–2014.74 Defra’s written submission agreed that forestry by its nature demanded long-term thinking.75
41.When the Minister appeared before us we questioned her on Defra’s engagement with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on the Government’s industrial strategy to make sure that the forestry sector was being appropriately represented. The Minister explained that the main sector Defra had been making representations for in relation to the industrial strategy was the food industry.76 While she had held “discussions with Ministers from BEIS about forestry and […] the amount of timber that is self-generated in this country”, these had been at a high level.77
42.We also asked the Minister about who was representing the forestry sector in plans being drawn up for the UK after it has left the European Union. Defra’s written evidence noted that while the “EU does not have legislative competence over forestry; nevertheless EU legislation does influence forestry activities”.78 The Minister explained in oral evidence that she did not see the need for specific forestry representation in discussions on the UK’s exit from the EU:
I am a bit quizzical, but there are very specific things when it comes to agriculture and food when talking about future trade deals. […] In terms of Brexit, I do not see what is special about forestry in regard to trade deals.79
Despite this she made clear that anyone in the forestry sector who wanted to make representations on the needs of the sector after the UK leaves the European Union should contact her, but she was “not aware that anybody from the forestry industry has approached me at Defra, so far, to talk about Brexit”.80 We encourage those in the forestry sector to approach the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Life Opportunities as early as possible with any concerns, opportunities and thoughts they have on the forestry sector when the UK leaves the European Union.
43.We were disappointed that the Minister had not raised in detail the issue of forestry with her governmental colleagues, especially during discussions on the Government’s industrial strategy and the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. We were disappointed at the apparent lack of enthusiasm on the part of the Minister to lobby for the sector’s interests across Government. We recommend that the Minister holds detailed discussions with relevant Ministers in BEIS on the role of the forestry sector in the Government’s industrial strategy, including resourcing the sector and increasing the number of apprenticeships within the forestry industry.
70 Independent Panel on Forestry, Final Report, p49
71 Friends of the Forest (FOR0009). See also: UK Forest Products Association (FOR0015), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FOR0048), and Institute of Chartered Foresters (FOR0051).
73 The National Forest, Strategy 2014–2024
74 The National Forest, The National Forest Delivery Plan 2009–2014
17 March 2017