Have your say on hot topics at APF seminars!

A level playing-field for future land use was the central argument in Confor's Common Countryside Policy document in response to the UK Government’s Health and Harmony consultation.

This month, a seminar at APF 2018 will discuss whether the wide-ranging public goods delivered by forestry and woodland will be fully recognised as future policy takes shape, 

Sir William Worsley, the UK’s first Tree Champion - a post created by Secretary of State Michael Gove MP after a request from Confor - will join the debate on ‘Fair Play for Forestry’. He will be joined by Paul Brannen, MEP for North-East England, a strong advocate of increased tree planting and the greater use of timber in construction.

Issues up for discussion include How do we break down land use silos? and What are public goods, how are they valued and who gets to decide?

Alongside Sir William, John Tucker, Director of Woodland Creation for The Woodland Trust will ask if we are in an era of golden opportunity for forestry, trees and woods. The panel is completed by Sue Pritchard, Director of the RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission and Susan Twining, Chief Land Use Policy Adviser with the CLA. 

Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of Confor, said: “It’s an exciting time for forestry and wood processing, with the opportunity to get our sector right into the heart of the debate about future land use. Fair Play for Forestry cuts to the heart of that opportunity and how we ensure fairer recognition and reward for land managers who deliver public goods.

“That discussion about public goods links right into the second seminar on the role wood can play in the future bioeconomy - and the opportunities presented to look at wood in an entirely new way.

“We are very excited about these seminars and look forward to welcoming a range of different perspectives to the table, and to a healthy contribution from our audience.”