SAVE OUR FORESTS - HUME TAKES FORESTRY PROTEST TO THE MINISTER

12.00.00am GMT Mon 1st Dec 2008

Jim Hume MSP, MSP for the South of Scotland and Environment Spokesperson, will take a delegation to the Scottish Government to protest about its plans to lease out 25% of Forestry Commission forests to private companies on 75 year leases.

The MSP fears that such a lease arrangement with private investment companies will lead to Forestry Commission job losses, will jeopardise tourism and woodland projects, and will put at risk those companies reliant upon wood as their raw material.

Jim Hume said:

“The Scottish Government’s ludicrous proposal to lease out at least 25% of Scotland’s publicly owned forestry estate on such long leases to private companies is surely not in the interests of looking after our natural environment.

“I do not believe that any large timberland investment company will be worried about whether they’re growing the forest sustainably and thinking about the woodland biodiversity, and nor will they be worried about making sure local sawmills and other wood dependant companies have a regular supply of timber to run their businesses.

“Scotland’s forested land is a huge asset for tourism and sport such as mountain biking at Glentress and throughout the 7stanes network. I also believe that community access and any future development of existing leisure facilities could be put at risk.

“As for Forestry Commission jobs, the Minister says that there will be no compulsory redundancies and that employees will be able to transfer under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. This does not fill me with confidence and I worry for the rights of Forestry Commission employees.

“This latest scam by the Scottish Government serves only to make a quick buck and is like selling off the family silver.

The MSP continued:

“I’m taking a delegation to the Minister on Wednesday of this week (3rd December) made up of a cross section of those involved in and dependant upon the forestry sector to protest against this ludicrous proposal.”

ENDS