Abstract :
Forestry policy increasingly aims to secure multiple benefits from new and existing plantations or woodlands. This implies that forestry policy needs to become harmonized with wider land use policy. One means for achieving this is through the planning system, although it is commonly the case that forestry operations are exempt from planning control. This creates a situation in which planning authorities must use a variety of imaginative measures in order to influence the future pattern and condition of forest resources. The present study indicates that there is a widespread recognition amongst planning authorities in Britain of the ways in which forests and woodlands can help contribute to the fulfilment of many environmental and socioeconomic objectives. Indeed, development plans already contain numerous relevant policies. However, there are several key issues on which planners can only exercise indirect influence, and these are commonly approached by indicative planning, advisory references to management, and cautious use of planning ‘gain’. It is suggested that there is considerable scope for further official guidance on the opportunities for positive influence by planners on the development of forests and woodlands.
