Sir, I write to congratulate Mike Russell for recognising the importance of commercially focused forestry and the multiple benefits it has brought to Scotland and its potential for even more benefits in future.
Unfortunately the potential to debate constructively has been diverted by the misrepresentation of the issues by opposition politicians and those whose jobs may change.
The latest instalment of this fearmongering was last week’s ‘Save our Forests’ meeting.
This was in reality a ‘Save our Forestry Commission Jobs as They Are’ meeting. I have known many Forestry Commission (FC) employees for many years.
Their morale has ranged from low to rock bottom having faced numerous restructurings driven by short term thinking by FC bosses and government requiring the FC to justify the large sums of public money it spends, over and above timber revenues received.
Quite a number of foresters over the years have jumped at the offer of early retirement on comfortable pensions because of the frustrations of working for the FC.
I can understand a fear of possible change, but change can sometimes be good. I hope we are all in favour of getting the most benefit from our existing and future forests.
The question is whether this will be most cost effectively achieved by the public or the private sector, or the most sensible combination of both.
This can only be established by debating the real issues and setting out the facts and costs of the options. I hope Mike Russell succeeds in his quest.
Name and address supplied.
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