机构沿革
英格兰林业委员会（Forestry Commission，1919 年依据《林业法》设立）经历逾百年发展，现已成为英格兰规模最大的国有林地管理者。其历史可追溯至第一次世界大战末期：当时英国本土林木覆盖率已降至 5%，国家遂通过立法建立国有林地体系并扶持林业作为新兴产业。1919 年 12 月，德文郡 Eggesford 森林种下委员会的第一批苗木；至 1920 年代末，全国国有林已扩展至约 24.3 万公顷，跨越 152 片森林。1935 年首座国家森林公园对外开放，揭开了国有林向公众游憩功能延伸的序幕。
职能与组织
今日的林业委员会由三个独立机构组成：林业英格兰（Forestry England）负责国有林的日常管护、生态游憩与可持续木材生产；林业研究院（Forest Research）牵头林业与环境前沿科研；英格兰林业委员会（Forestry Commission in England）主管私有林主补助、政策许可与行业咨询。林业英格兰直接管理逾 25 万公顷林地与多样化生境，包括石南荒原、泥炭沼泽以及众多具有特殊科学价值地点（SSSI）和国家自然保护区（NNR），并承担英格兰最大可持续木材生产者的角色。
森林资源与生态保护
林业英格兰管理的林地承载着英格兰半数以上的稀有物种，涵盖红松鼠、水田鼠、苍鹰与鹗等旗舰类群。机构通过自然恢复项目（如野化森林计划）促进弯曲河道重建、低密度放牧与新型森林经营方式，引入海狸、松貂与白尾海雕等本地回归物种。在木材经营层面，所产原木全部通过森林管理委员会（FSC）与森林认证体系认可计划（PEFC）认证，年产逾百万吨可持续木材，并通过植树造林持续扩大碳汇。
公众游憩与社区价值
林业英格兰是英格兰最大的户外游憩与旅游资源提供者，每年接待约 3 亿人次访问，99% 的英格兰居民在一小时车程内即可抵达其下辖森林。机构与地方经营者合作提供山地自行车道、徒步路线、房车营地与可住宿林间木屋，并支持 Go Ape 等冒险活动品牌，每年贡献超过 80 家本地企业的运营。机构长期推动艺术展览、森林浴与自然教育项目，强化森林在公众身心健康中的角色。
研究与未来战略
林业研究院自 1946 年 Alice Holt Lodge 研究站成立以来，持续在森林培育、病虫害防治、气候变化适应与生态系统服务领域开展研究。林业英格兰当前发布的《2031 增长未来战略》提出，到 2031 年通过新建林地与现有林地改造提升森林韧性，应对 2050 年以后的气候情景，重点聚焦生物多样性恢复、碳汇能力提升以及行业就业与社区经济效益。
Origins and Establishment
The Forestry Commission was established under the Forestry Act of 1919 to reverse severe timber shortages in Britain after the First World War, when woodland cover had fallen to just 5%. The first trees were planted by the newly formed Commission at Eggesford Forest in Devon in December 1919. By the end of the 1920s, the nation’s forests had grown to more than 152 forests covering 243,000 hectares. The opening of the first National Forest Park in 1935 marked the beginning of public outdoor recreation in the Commission’s estates.
Current Structure
Today the Forestry Commission operates as three separate organisations. Forestry England manages the nation’s forests, delivering recreation, biodiversity and sustainable timber activities. Forest Research leads on forestry and environmental science. The Forestry Commission in England handles forestry policy, grants for private woodland owners, felling licences and sector advice. Forestry England directly cares for more than 250,000 hectares of land including heathland, peatland, SSSIs and National Nature Reserves.
Wildlife and Sustainable Timber
The nation’s forests support over half of England’s rarest species, including red squirrels, water voles, goshawks and ospreys. Forestry England runs large-scale nature recovery projects that reintroduce beavers, pine martens and white-tailed eagles while restoring meandering watercourses and low-density grazing systems. All timber produced is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) approved, with more than one million tonnes harvested each year.
Recreation and Community
Forestry England is the largest provider of outdoor recreation and tourism in England, welcoming around 300 million visits every year. 99% of people in England live within an hour’s drive of one of its forests. The forests host walking trails, mountain biking tracks, campsites, cabins and partner-operated adventure experiences such as Go Ape. The annual visitor economy supports over 80 local businesses and contributes hundreds of millions of pounds to the wider economy.
Strategy and Research
Forest Research, established at Alice Holt Lodge in 1946, continues to deliver world-class science on tree health, climate adaptation and ecosystem services. The current Forestry England strategy, Growing the Future to 2031, sets out an ambitious plan to create resilient, nature-rich forests that support wildlife, tackle climate change and benefit people across the country. New woodlands are being designed to thrive in the climate conditions expected in 2050 and beyond.
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