Fw: BBC-England: Felling plan to save native trees

[Guest guest]

> Felling plan to save native trees

>

> Millions of conifers and other non-native trees are to

> be felled in the next 20 years to regenerate

> indigenous trees in England's woodland.

>

> Oak, ash and beech would be encouraged to naturally

> seed and regenerate, said Forestry Minister Jim

> Knight, and Lord Clark, of the Forestry Commission.

>

> Shading from conifers and over-grazing by livestock

> had taken their toll on ancient and native woodland,

> they said.

>

> Lord Clark said woodlands were " jewels in the crown "

> and needed to be saved.

>

> 'Diverse and beautiful'

>

> England's woodlands - which are often small and

> fragmented - are also vulnerable to climate change,

> pollution from farming, poor management and neglect,

> or loss to housing development.

>

> The shake-up policy, called Keepers of Time: A

> Statement of Policy for England's Ancient and Native

> Woodland, will see more wooded areas created over the

> next two decades.

>

> Some of these will be aimed at buffering or linking

> existing woods.

>

> Ancient woodlands that were converted to plantations

> in the last century will undergo a major programme of

> tree felling and thinning.

>

> Mr Knight said England's " diverse and beautiful

> landscapes " were justly famous the world over.

>

> " Our ancient woods are quintessential features of

> these much loved landscapes, irreplaceable, living

> historic monuments, which inspire us and provide us

> with a sense of place and history, " he said.

>

> " This policy statement rightly celebrates the

> importance of our ancient and native woodlands and

> sets out the mechanisms by which they can be conserved

> and enhanced over the coming years. "

>

> 'Crown jewels'

>

> Lord Clark, chairman of the Forestry Commission, said:

> " It is now time to significantly raise the profile and

> importance of ancient woodland by placing it at the

> heart of our policies on woodlands and forestry.

>

>

> ANCIENT WOODLAND

> Ancient woods categorised by existence since at least

> 1600

> England had lost about 95% of its ancient woodland by

> 1919

> Havens for rare flowers, ferns, insects and mosses

> 15% to be found in Sites of Special Scientific

> interest

>

> " Our ancient and semi-natural woodlands are the jewels

> in the crown of English forestry, and protecting and

> enhancing them will now be a high priority.

>

> " Since the 1980s, our understanding of woodland has

> increased, new issues have arisen and many of the

> pressures on the resource have changed. "

>

> Native woods aid flood management and help regulate

> air and water quality. They also contain a wealth of

> historic features and important wildlife.

>

> Story from BBC NEWS:

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/4632977.stm

>

> Published: 2005/06/29 09:28:06 GMT

>

> © BBC MMV

>