16/02/2005

Forest Service to hold meetings on future policy

Regular forest users are being invited to give their views on the future of forest policy in Northern Ireland.

Over the coming weeks, the Forest Service, an agency within the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, will be holding a series of public meetings to obtain feedback on options available.

In December 2004, the Forest Service issued a consultation paper, 'Options for Forestry'. The paper states government forest policy as: The sustainable management of our existing woods and forests; and a steady expansion of tree cover to increase the many diverse benefits that forests provide.

‘Options for Forestry’ also identifies a number of areas where changes in legislation and administration could improve the delivery of forestry services and invites public consultees to advise Forest Service of their views.

The Service has already written to a large number of stakeholders within the forestry and agricultural sectors.

The consultation period for the policy review, which will run for 12 weeks, will end on 31 March 2005.

(MB/SP)

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