Making British Forest Policy Work

Recent debate about British forest policy has been particularlyintense, and has led to major changes in the emphasis and administrationof policy. New prospects have emerged for lowland afforestation,and the relative importance accorded wood production objectiveshas declined. Changing public opinion and expectations, andchanging land use priorities, offer British foresters and forestrymany opportunities and challenges. The authors believe thata heightened awareness of the context and role of forest policyis essential if the forestry profession is to meet these challenges.This paper summarizes the nature of forest policy, and proposesvarious means by which British forest policy might develop toaddress its new circumstances. It is suggested that the generally-agreedobjectives of British forest policy will best be realized bysubstantive changes in the administration, implementation andfinancing of policy measures.