The UK, particularly the English, could not partake in the 2011 International Year of Forests, due to the proposed public forest sell off and the misinformation which surrounded the consultation.
Forestry has climbed out of that mire and is now racing to take its rightful place at the head of land management, in realising real sustainable development and the much needed societal element of it. The public have been listened to and the Forest Panel report and Government response to their findings both acknowledge the need to continue to listen to the public with regards trees but we mustn’t shut up yet.
A tree in any landscape has a significant presence, due to its sheer size if nothing else and as such demands attention and the impact trees have on us all has been recognised by enough policymakers to ensure that it is how we deal with and discuss our trees and our forests that can help determine a case study to help preserve and protect all other natural elements in our landscapes.
On Thursday 21st March it is the first official International Day for Trees and Forests. This time we Britons can join in the celebration!
Several issues surrounding trees in all landscapes are coming together. From the EU Timber Regulations, which came into force on the 3rd March to the burgeoning use of a landscape approach in land management planning, to the use of the internet in providing a platform to enable much needed discussion.
We must not stop celebrating trees or shouting for them, if we did then all natural elements are at risk and most importantly the biodiversity dependent on it.
A soft power approach, as advocated by Christopher Neilan and echoed by many other contributors to SoW, is something we can help provide. We are therefore delighted to announce that we are to be helping with the ‘rolling out’ of an English Tree of the Year competition, to be voted for by you. We are helping to establish also a Scottish Tree of the Year and hopefully a Welsh Tree of the Year also. The chosen tree will then join other trees from around Europe for entry into the European Tree of the Year competition which has grown now to include many European countries. There will be more to follow on this.
In the meantime, enjoy the International Day of Trees and Forests!
