As the government claims that it will protect our forests, and not sell them off under their new plans, hundreds of jobs are being cut from the Forestry Commission.

The FC is planning a 25% cut in jobs and a major restructuring could cause 300 job losses in England, with 256 jobs at risk at the Forest Enterprise which runs the public forests.

And while Conservative MPs keep claiming they don’t have any plans to sell forests, in other exchanges in Parliament they say the sale of these “Forestry assets” will contribute towards flood defence.

I’m sure the Chair would be interested to know, because of her interest in flooding, that it would be perfectly possible for us to use the proceeds from sales of these assets towards increasing the capital available for flood defences, for example. We have that assurance from the Treasury and it is very valuable to us.

(hat-tip William Green)

Some MPs have already received hundreds of hostile emails about the proposed sell-off.

The PCS union plan to hold a rally outside the Foresty Commission’s headquarters in Edinburgh tomorrow.
Its general secretary Mark Serwotka says:

These job losses will hit industries and services allied to forestry, have a severe impact on small communities and affect tourism and other services to the 40 million visitors a year to the forests.

The only way to protect staff and avoid the wider impact on jobs and economies from the attack on the forests is to have a properly-resourced Forestry Commission to directly own and run the public forest estate.

Over 410,000 people have now signed the online petition against the forest sell-off at 38 Degrees.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   Govt plans jobs cuts in Forestry and makes plans for "asset sales" http://bit.ly/dHdOJA

2. Double.Karma

   RT @libcon: Govt plans jobs cuts in Forestry and makes plans for "asset sales" http://bit.ly/dHdOJA

3. salardeen

   RT @libcon: Govt plans jobs cuts in Forestry and makes plans for "asset sales" http://bit.ly/dHdOJA

4. sunny hundal

   While claiming to save them, Conservatives plan job cuts at Forestry Commission and “asset sales” http://bit.ly/dHdOJA

5. EDI Anti-Cuts

   RT @sunny_hundal: While claiming to save them, Conservatives plan job cuts at Forestry Commission and “asset sales” http://bit.ly/dHdOJA

6. cheesley

   Forests: Govt plans job cuts and “asset sales” | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/cVMARa5 via @libcon #condemnation #unite #solidarity

7. Paddy Eden

   RT @sunny_hundal: While claiming to save them, Conservatives plan job cuts at Forestry Commission and “asset sales” http://bit.ly/dHdOJA

8. Marie J

   RT @sunny_hundal: While claiming to save them, Conservatives plan job cuts at Forestry Commission and “asset sales” http://bit.ly/dHdOJA

9. Brian Barefield

   RT @sunny_hundal: While claiming to save them, Conservatives plan job cuts at Forestry Commission and “asset sales” http://bit.ly/dHdOJA

10. Carl Austin

    RT @sunny_hundal: While claiming to save them, Conservatives plan job cuts at Forestry Commission and “asset sales” http://bit.ly/dHdOJA

11. How much of our Forests are being sold exactly? | Liberal Conspiracy

    [...] reported on the job cuts here [...]

12. Rachel Hubbard

    Forests: Govt plans job cuts and “asset sales” | Liberal Conspiracy http://goo.gl/GPj1e