HUME TAKES FORESTRY CAMPAIGN TO INNERLEITHEN (Jim Hume)

HUME TAKES FORESTRY CAMPAIGN TO INNERLEITHEN

December 8, 2008 12:00 AM

Jim Hume MSP, MSP for the South of Scotland and Environment Spokesperson, is continuing the fight to prevent the Scottish Government selling off publicly owned forests across the South of Scotland.

The MSP visited Innerleithen 7stanes at the weekend and over the coming weeks will be holding a series of meetings with constituents and other stakeholders including those from the tourism sector, Forestry Commission employees, Trade Union representatives and environmental groups.

Jim Hume said:

"The Scottish Government's plan to effectively privatise huge swathes of Scottish forests is hidden within the details of the Climate Change Bill and I believe it is hugely flawed.

"Not only will Forestry Commission jobs be lost, but other associated employment will be affected, for example, the local timber companies who rely on cutting rights given to them by the Forestry Commission may no longer get those cutting contracts if private investment companies take over. Consequently local timber companies could face an uncertain future if the security of supply of the raw material they need to sustain their business is removed.

"Over the weekend I met on site at Innerleithen 7stanes with concerned individuals and Trade Union representatives who all share the same worry which is that the privatisation of 25% of Scotland's public forests can only be a bad thing.

"The Scottish Government plans to lease out 25% of Scottish forests for up to 75 years, but the Minister has said that that the most commercially viable land will be up for grabs. That 25% represents in real terms 40% of production for the Forestry Commission so that will significantly diminish the Forestry Commission's income for investment in maintenance of woodland initiatives such as the 7stanes network and investment into new initiatives.

"I seriously question the Scottish Government's motives and will resist this move at every opportunity. At the same time, people need to object to the proposal by responding to the consultation before the 27th January deadline."

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Jim Hume is pictured at 7stanes Innerleithen with stakeholders who share the MSP's concerns (8 December 08 Forestry Innerleithen).

2. Jim Hume is pictured with stakeholders from across the tourism and forestry industries as well as Forestry Commission Trade Union reps during a meeting with the Environment Minister on 3rd December (3 Dec 08 Forestry Delegation).

3. The consultation can be found at and the deadline is the 27th January:-

http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/pdf/forestryscottishclimatechangebill.pdf/$FILE/forestryscottishclimatechangebill.pdf