British Conservative defeat on forest sellout

This video is called David Cameron Selling Forests.

From daily The Guardian in Britain:

David Cameron bows to pressure over English forest sale

Government set for another major U-turn over plans to dispose of Forestry Commission land

* Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent
* Wednesday 16 February 2011 14.10 GMT

David Cameron is to back away from plans to change the ownership of 258,000 hectares of state-owned woodland in England after admitting to MPs he is unhappy with the policy.

The prime minister indicated that the government would embark on another major U-turn after Ed Miliband asked him in the Commons whether he was happy with his flagship policy to sell off the forests. …

The government has been under intense pressure since the environment secretary, Caroline Spelman, unveiled plans last year to dispose of about half of the 748,000 hectares of woodland run by the Forestry Commission by 2020. Spelman has faced intense criticism from Conservative MPs who have been confronted by angry protests from constituents who believe the government is showing a lack of sensitivity to a key fabric of the nation.

The fate of Britain’s forests will be decided by a panel which will include privateers with an interest in taking woodland out of public hands, the government announced today: here.

Conservation group the Woodland Trust warned today that ancient woodlands could lose their protection under planning reforms: here.

July 2011: Wildlife-rich areas in England covering an area four and a half times the size of Greater London will be at risk under a new planning system, according to the Wildlife Trusts: here.