Editing Forestry Commission (section)

== Role ==
Before the setting up of separate bodies for Scotland the Forestry Commission managed almost 700,000 hectares (about 1.7 million acres) of land in [[England]] and [[Scotland]], making it the country's biggest land manager.<ref name=countrylife>{{cite web|url=http://www.countrylife.co.uk/countryside/article/506868/Who-owns-Britain-Top-UK-landowners.html|title=Who owns Britain: Top UK landowners|publisher=[[Country Life (magazine)|Country Life]]|date=11 November 2012|access-date=14 May 2012}}</ref> The majority of the land (70%) was in [[Scotland]], 30% of the landholding is in England.<ref name=Stats2011>{{cite book|url=http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcfs211.pdf/$FILE/fcfs211.pdf|title=Forestry Facts & Figures 2011|publisher=Forestry Commission|access-date=18 July 2012|year=2011|isbn=978-0-85538-852-2|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070812/http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcfs211.pdf/$FILE/fcfs211.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Activities carried out on the forest estate include maintenance and improvement of the natural environment and the provision of recreation, timber [[harvest]]ing to supply domestic industry, regenerating brownfield and replanting of harvested areas.

[[Deforestation]] was the main reason for the creation of the commission in 1919. Britain had only 5% of its original forest cover left and the government at that time wanted to create a strategic resource of timber.<ref name=FCHistory>{{cite web|url=http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/CMON-4UUM6R|title=History of the Forestry Commission|publisher=The Forestry Commission|access-date=11 April 2012|archive-date=17 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417060054/http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/cmon-4uum6r|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since then forest coverage has doubled and the commission's remit expanded to include greater focus on sustainable forest management and maximising public benefits. Woodland creation continues to be an important role of the commission, however, and works closely with government to achieve its goal of 12% forest coverage by 2060,<ref>{{cite web|title=Government Forestry and Woodlands|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181809/pb13871-forestry-policy-statement.pdf.pdf|publisher=Defra|access-date=7 June 2013}}</ref> championing initiatives such as [[The Big Tree Plant]] and [[Woodland Carbon Code]].

The Forestry Commission is also the government body responsible for the regulation of private forestry in [[England]]; felling is generally illegal without first obtaining a licence from the Commission.<ref name=Felling>{{cite web|url=http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6DFK86|title=Felling Licences|publisher=Forestry Commission|access-date=18 May 2012|archive-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003075650/http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6DFK86|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Commission is also responsible for encouraging new private forest growth and development. Part of this role is carried out by providing grants in support of private forests and woodlands.

[[Image:Bucknell Wood - Bluebells.jpg|thumb|center|650px|[[Hyacinthoides non-scripta|Bluebells]] in the north-east of Bucknell Wood, part of [[Whittlewood Forest]] in [[Northamptonshire]]]]