OWNERSHIP OF PUBLIC FORESTS

That this House is alarmed by the Government's decision to enter into a period of public consultation on the future of the Public Forest Estate of approximately 258,000 hectares of Government-owned land in England currently managed by the Forestry Commission; notes that contained within the Ministerial Statement was the view that the present status quo is not an option and the main purpose of the consultation is to effect a shift in ownership of our national forest resources into private ownership; and reminds the Government that the estate was started at a time of national crisis, timber shortages and woodland depletion, a situation still current and relevant in today's bigger picture of increased populations, urbanisation and the serious effects of climate change.