Ministers confirmed in Parliament yesterday the targets for the sale of public forests in England for the Spending Review period to 2015.
It is important to note that these sales are separate from the public consultation expected in early next year on alternative options for management or ownership of the remaining Public Forest Estate in England.
The Forestry Commission will be asked to sell around 15% of the forests that they manage in England – about 40,000 hectares – in order to raise £100 million over the four-year Spending Review period. Apparently, the criteria for selecting sites for sale are in the process of being finalised. You can read the official line here.
Gabriel Hemery