Commentary on Sections Part 1 – Functions of the Department Section 4 – Use or development of forestry land
Section 4 will provide a power for the Department to develop its land to obtain better value from the public estate – for example the use of wind farms or the development of tourist facilities on forestry land. In exercising this power, the Department must have due regard to its general duties in section 1 to promote afforestation and sustainable forestry.
The Department is already committed through the UK Forestry Standard and the UK Woodland Assurance Standard to credible standards of sustainable forest management. Furthermore, any development will have to be in line with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations (NI) 2006.