Forestry

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on forestry. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
19.12.2012Ash dieback disease: Chalara fraxinea
Chalara fraxinea is a fungus which is causing a serious disease of ash trees known as ash dieback. Ash dieback was discovered in the UK in February 2012 and a ban on ash imports introduced on 29 October 2012. This note provides information on the disease and the Government's actions to control it.
08.11.2012The Forestry Commission and the sale of public forests in England
This note sets out information on the sale of public forests managed by the Forestry Commission
03.03.2011Illegally Logged Timber: EU and UK legislation
This note covers the EU ban on the import of illegal timber and proposals for UK legislation.

Research Papers

DateDescription
10.11.2010Sustainable Livestock Bill. Bill 5 of 2010-11 Public Bodies (Sustainable Food) Bill. Bill 12 of 2010-11
The Sustainable Livestock Bill aims to reduce the environmental impacts of livestock production in the UK. It also aims to amend the way agricultural subsidies are used to make them more environmentally friendly. It includes a duty to give consideration to supporting sustainable practices and consumption through public procurement of livestock produce. The Public Bodies (Sustainable Food) Bill would create a duty on the Secretary of State to prepare a Code for Sustainable Food to promote the procurement of healthy and sustainable food by public bodies. This could be made compulsory if uptake was not extensive enough.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
03.05.2011Draft Legislative Reform (Epping Forest) Order 2011.
Regulatory Reform Select Committee report [Commons]
21.07.2010The National Forest.
Government response. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
08.02.2011NATURE RESERVES
That this House is deeply concerned at the Government's decision to absolve itself of the responsibility for the running of nature reserves at the same time as selling off the public ...
02.02.2011PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE FUTURE OF THE PUBLIC FOREST ESTATE
That this House recognises the volume of public concern in response to the Government's proposals regarding the future ownership and management of the public forest estate in England ...
01.02.2011OWNERSHIP 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 ...
25.01.2011SALE OF FORESTS
That this House notes with concern draft plans to sell off areas of public forest in England, potentially including Grizedale Forest in the Lake District; recognises that public ownership ...
14.12.2010FORESTRY COMMISSION REDUCTIONS IN EXPENDITURE
That this House is alarmed at the 25 per cent. cut to the Forestry Commission announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review; opposes plans to sell off parts of the Public Forest Estate ...

POST Papers

DateDescription
15.05.2012Bioenergy
Bioenergy is the use of renewable natural material for power, heat and liquid fuels. Currently, the UK sources approximately 3% of its primary energy from bioenergy feedstocks. This POSTnote considers the opportunities and challenges of producing bioenergy sustainably to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets.
19.10.2011Invasive Tree Pests and Diseases
Tree diseases and pests from outside or already spreading within, Europe, have the potential to damage or kill large number of trees in the UK's country and urban landscapes.
01.10.2009Deforestation
This POSTnote looks at the reasons why deforestation occurs and the impact it has on the environment, as well as examining policies to reduce it.
01.01.2007UK trees and forests, January 2007
UK trees and forests, January 2007. POSTnote 07/275.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library