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In a statement to the National Assembly for Wales, the Minister said there will be no overall reduction in the size of the National Forest Estate, but called on Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) to adopt a flexible style of management to ensure maximum public benefit from Welsh woodlands.
The current Welsh Assembly Government owned woodland estate is 125,000 hectares, which is six per cent of the land area of Wales, and almost 40 per cent of Welsh woodland.
The Minister said:
“Our Forest Estate is a vital national resource and the Welsh Assembly Government has no intention of selling it off.
“Public ownership is key to securing maximum public benefits from Welsh woodlands, which provide public access, employment, and support for the timber and tourism industries. Our Forest Estate also has a major role to play in the fight against climate change and in halting the loss of biodiversity.
“The Forest Estate must not be a stagnant resource. In 2009 I asked the Forestry Commission Wales to undertake a review of the purpose and use of the Welsh Assembly Government woodland estate.
“As a result of this review, I am calling for a more dynamic approach to the management of the Forest Estate. While I have rejected a widespread sale of publicly-owned woodland, there may be some areas of woodland within the National Estate which could provide greater benefit under third sector or, in some cases, private sector ownership or management. Equally, there are areas currently outside our estate which we would like to be brought within our ownership in order to deliver greater public benefit.”
Forestry Commission Wales has been asked to be proactive and imaginative in exploring opportunities for gaining greater economic, environmental and social benefits when dealing with the private sector and third sectors.
FCW has also been asked to identify the renewable energy potential within the National Forest Estate, particularly through small hydropower schemes. It will also explore community wind projects, the use of wood as a sustainable source of renewable fuel, joint ventures to support new recreational facilities, and the expansion of the forest holidays industry.
Link to : Woodlands for Wales
Gweinidog yn gofyn am reoli coetiroedd Cymru mewn ffordd ddeinamig
Mewn datganiad i Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, dywedodd y Gweinidog na fydd yr Ystad Goed Genedlaethol yn cael ei lleihau ond gofynnodd i Gomisiwn Coedwigaeth Cymru fabwysiadu dull rheoli hyblyg i sicrhau bod y cyhoedd yn cael y budd mwyaf o goetiroedd Cymru.
Ar hyn o bryd, mae Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru yn berchen ar 125,000 o hectarau o goetir, sy'n 6% o arwynebedd tir Cymru a bron yn 40% o goetiroedd Cymru.
Meddai'r Gweinidog:
"Mae’n Hystad Goed yn adnodd cenedlaethol hanfodol bwysig ac nid oes unrhyw fwriad gan Lywodraeth Cymru i'w gwerthu.
"Mae cadw’r Ystad Goed Genedlaethol dan berchenogaeth gyhoeddus yn allweddol hefyd er mwyn sicrhau’r buddiannau cyhoeddus mwyaf posibl o’n coetiroedd yng Nghymru sy'n darparu mynediad i’r cyhoedd, gwaith, ac yn cefnogi’r diwydiant coed a’r diwydiant twristiaeth. Mae ganddi rôl fawr i’w chwarae hefyd o ran mynd i’r afael â’r newid yn yr hinsawdd ac atal bioamrywiaeth rhag cael ei cholli.
"Rhaid i ni sicrhau nad yw’r Ystad Goed yn adnodd sy’n aros yn ei unfan. Yn 2009, gofynnais i Gomisiwn Coedwigaeth Cymru adolygu at ba ddibenion y mae ystad goed Llywodraeth Cynulliad yn cael ei defnyddio.
"O ganlyniad i'r adolygiad hwn, rwy'n gofyn am ddefnyddio ffordd fwy deinamig i reoli’r Ystad Goed. Er fy mod i wedi ymwrthod â’r syniad o werthu coetiroedd cyhoeddus ar raddfa eang, mae’n bosib’ bod yna ardaloedd bach o goetir sy’n rhan o’r ystad gyhoeddus a allai gynnig mwy o fuddiannau cyhoeddus pe bai’r trydydd sector neu’r sector preifat yn berchen arnyn nhw, neu’n eu rheoli. Yn yr un modd, mae yna ardaloedd nad ydynt yn rhan o'n hystad ar hyn o bryd yr hoffem berchen arnynt er mwyn iddynt gynnig mwy o fuddiannau cyhoeddus."
Gofynnwyd i Gomisiwn Coedwigaeth Cymru fod yn rhagweithiol ac yn greadigol wrth edrych ar gyfleoedd i sicrhau mwy o fuddiannau economaidd, amgylcheddol a chymdeithasol wrth ddelio â’r sector preifat a’r trydydd sector.
