Dear Mr Russell

I call on the Scottish Government to abandon proposals to lease out at least 25% of our national forest

estate to private investors.

The Scottish Government should continue to have a stake in the management of and investment in its

entire estate, in order to protect forestry jobs and support the vital recreational, environmental, tourism

and public access role that the Forestry Commission currently sustains.

Many small rural communities are sustained by local people being employed in the Forestry Commission.

The proposal has lead to fears for forestry jobs and conditions, not only within the Forestry Commission,

but also for local processors, suppliers and businesses.

The cash brought in by the sale of our forests would be at the expense of future years’ income, as timber

is sold by the private investor rather than the Government.

Forests are also vitally important to Scotland and act as a ‘carbon sink’ and it is only right that the

government, not private investors, retain strategic control of any deforestation and re-planting.

The Forestry Commission was also ahead of its time in encouraging public access to its forests and

developing tourism related outdoor facilities.

Many families, walkers, mountain bikers, bird watchers and others who currently enjoy access to the

forests will be concerned regarding the intentions of private investors and any attempts to curb access to

Scotland’s forests.

The proposal to lease out many of our forests is short sighted and potentially very damaging to Scotland

and I would again urge the Scottish Government to abandon these plans.