Method of Working

Mission Statement

To provide a unified voice to champion trees, woodlands and forestry in the region and to further their inter-action with wider regional interests and agendas.

 

Terms of Reference

•  To raise the profile of trees, woodlands and forestry in the region, demonstrating the linkage to regional agendas, strategies and processes, in the light of the work of the England Forestry Forum and through the emerging Regional Forestry Framework (RFF).

•  To develop a bold regional vision for trees, woodlands and forestry, assisting the development and implementation of the RFF, helping to ensure that regional distinctiveness is addressed and key priorities and actions are clearly expressed and actions monitored.

•  To provide an effective network for communication, co-ordination of action and empowerment for key organisations and individuals in both public and private sectors, plus partnerships and initiatives addressing woodland and forestry issues in the region.

Key Issues For the Forum

Overarching Issue : To oversee the production of the RFF through the work of the Steering Group, ensuring ownership by the Forum and its constituent organisations and that appropriate key connections to the regional agenda are in place. Monitor and steer implementation helping to ensure that effective lines of communication and resources are in place.

 

Issues arranged under the Themes of the Baseline Study 'A Growing Resource' and the RFF:

1. Woodland Coverage

•  Evaluate and inform the targeting of resources for woodland protection, management and creation ensuring engagement with the private sector.

•  Encourage regional policy strategies and processes to inform and stimulate development of the woodland resource, using tools such as landscape character assessment.

•  Provide direction and prioritisation to woodland creation in the region.

2.  Woodland and Forestry Industry

•  Develop co-ordination of the forestry sector through encouraging effective working between woodland initiatives and forestry and timber organisations.

•  Encourage development of new opportunities for the sector working through the RFF action plan.

•  Provide support to the forestry sector through improving systems of communication, advice and information provision on best practice, incentives, regulation and policy development at regional level and beyond.

 

3. Wood Energy

•  Promote wood energy as an important element of the renewable energy strategy.

•  Support the regional wood energy strategy and monitor delivery of actions.

4. Recycling

•  Promote wood recycling and its potential contribution to regional waste reduction targets.

•  Ensure effective links are made between wood recycling and the wood energy programme.

 

5. Recreation and Tourism

•  Assist the development of the relationship between the forestry sector and those responsible for tourism and cultural strategies.

•  Encourage the development of forestry tourism in the region.

•  Promote more and better quality access and recreational facilities targeted where most needed and especially in respect of local communities.

6. Health and Well Being

•  Support the development of strategic links between forestry and health.

•  Encourage forestry and health projects and assist the gathering and collation of information and funding in respect of the region's forestry and health experience.

 

7.  Education, Learning and Skills

•  Support the development of a joined-up action plan for life-long learning that engages wider groups such as Education Authorities and Health organisations to raise the level of knowledge of forestry and its public benefits.

•  Monitor and encourage the growth of the forestry work force and support for wood related businesses based on programmes arising from the benchmark study and the work of initiatives such as Heartwoods.

8. Fostering Social Inclusion

•  Support work to enable all West Midlands residents to have access to and information on woodlands and woodland products on their doorsteps.

•  Promote opportunities for community involvement in all aspects of trees and woodlands, including and engaging with woodland owners and managers.

•  Support the profile of trees and woodlands in an urban setting and promote urban forestry initiatives.

 

9. Enhancing Biodiversity

•  Promote the linkage of woodland-related biodiversity to relevant regional strategies including the Biodiversity Strategy.

•  Monitor regional programmes to protect, enhance and restore semi-natural woodlands.

•  Encourage work to achieve woodland related nature conservation targets especially for the most important habitats and threatened species.

10. Benefits to Natural and Cultural Environment

•  Promote work which provides forestry related solutions to environmental issues.

•  Ensure forestry is included in key regional strategies such as the Cultural Strategy.

•  Assist the development of the forestry sector's contribution to sustainable development issues in the region including the Regional Sustainable Development Framework.

 

11. Improving Development and Land Regeneration

•  Embed forestry in regional regeneration policy.

•  Oversee the development of a strategic regional approach to forestry for regeneration.

•  Promote the potential of forestry for the restoration of brownfield, derelict and industrial land.