The government have finally announced the members of the panel and their terms of reference:
Members
The Right Reverend James Jones – Chair
Shireen Chambers (Institute of Chartered Foresters)
Dr Mike Clarke (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
Tom Franklin (Ramblers)
Stuart Goodall (Confederation of Forest Industries)
Stephanie Hilborne OBE (Wildlife Trusts)
Sue Holden (Woodland Trust)
Dr Alan Knight OBE (Single Planet Living)
Dame Fiona Reynolds (National Trust)
Sir Harry Studholme (Forestry Commissioner)
John Varley (Clinton Devon Estates)
William Worsley (Country Land and Business Association)
Terms of Reference
1. To advise the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the future direction of forestry and woodland policy in England.
2. To advise on the role of the Forestry Commission in implementing policy on forestry and woodland in relation to England.
3. In formulating this advice, the Panel should consider:
a) how woodland cover can be increased, given competing pressures on land use for food production, energy and development;
b) options for enhancing public benefits from all woodland and forests, in the light of the Lawton Report and the Natural Environment White Paper, including;
- public access for recreation and leisure;
- biodiversity, wildlife protection and ecological resilience, including through
- restoration of open habitats and plantations on ancient woodland sites;
- climate change mitigation and adaptation;
- economic development, particularly to support a sustainable timber
- industry and a wide range of small and medium sized enterprises,
- including social enterprises; and
- engagement and participation of civil society.
c) constraints and competing demands on public expenditure for this Spending Review period and beyond;
d) the role of Forest Enterprise England as the manager of productive forestry resources;
e) the value for money and cost-effectiveness of the public forest estate in England and options for its future ownership and management.
4. In formulating its advice to the Secretary of State, the Panel will be expected to engage and take evidence from the widest range of views and interest.
5. The Panel will report to the Secretary of State in the autumn of 2011
