Healthier citizens and a greener, more enterprising, future are some of the key visions mapped out today (Wednesday, 24 March) in a blueprint for the region's woods.

The Government Office for the North East has unveiled a first ever draft forest strategy outlining ways in which woods and trees can make the region a better place to live and work.
 
Organisations spanning both public and business sectors have contributed to the "green road map" which will be used to allocate future resources and co-ordinate existing and new initiatives.
 
A consultation exercise on its recommendations is launched today, before the final document is agreed and implemented.
 
The strategy acknowledges the vital importance of sustainably managed woodlands in delivering a wide range of benefits to the public, such as outdoor recreation facilities, homes for wildlife and wood fuel for renewable energy projects. It also recognises the importance and continuing role for timber production as the main source of funding to support the provision of these benefits.
 
Some of the key targets include:
 
Creating at least 200 hectares (500 acres) of woods on brownfield sites in the next four years
Ensuring trees and green spaces are included in new business and housing developments
Piloting a UK-first GP referral project in Gateshead to use local woods to promote better health
Expanding use of wood as a fuel resource by establishing ten small scale projects
Promoting better collaboration between timber-related businesses, help expand wood processing capacity and secure jobs
Restoring 95% of the regions woodlands that are of national importance for
wildlife into good condition by 2010 and targetting grants at planting schemes slanted towards biodiversity objectives
Creating 500 hectares (1250 acres) of new woodland each year
Expanding forest-related tourism
Launching the vision, Jonathan Blackie, Regional Director, Government Office for the North East, said:
 
"This is a strategy that will make a real difference to people's lives. It shows where trees and woods can make the greatest contribution and will direct our energies and those of our partners for years to come. Many organisations will be responsible for the delivery of the detailed objectives, but by working together the future will be both brighter and greener for everyone in the north east."
 
According to the document the region has 100,000 hectares (225,000 acres) of woodland - 12% of land area, compared with the national average of 8.4%. Every year 500,000 tonnes of timber is harvested and over one million tonnes processed by chipboard plants and sawmills. That helps sustain 2,000 jobs. However, the region consumes 2.5 million tonnes of wood each year - one tonne for every person in the north east. The strategy underlines the potential to expand processing capacity, with the north east well placed to benefit from the expected doubling of timber harvesting in southern Scotland and northern England over the next ten years.

Brendan Callaghan, of the Forestry Commission's North East Conservancy, said:
 
"There's a solid business case for having an overall forest strategy, but the document also shows that trees and woodlands touch on many areas of life. For example over the past decade half of all new woods created in the north east have been planted in urban fringe areas, mainly within Great North Forest and Tees Forest boundaries. They have brought the social, health and environmental benefits of a more attractive landscape to people's doorsteps. Expanding that work is a key element of the strategy."
 
Roger Hay, Chairman of the North East Forestry Action Group, who initiated the project, added:
 
“We have a very enthusiastic and skilled wood creation and using sector in the region, who are keen to fulfill the ideals set out in the strategy.”