Table 8.4 provides information on net expenditure on public forests by the Forestry Commission in Great Britain. This covers expenditure less income for land that is owned or managed by the Forestry Commission. Other expenditure by the Forestry Commission is covered in Table 8.5.

The Forestry Commission’s functions in Wales transferred to a new organisation, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), on 1 April 2013. Figures for Wales in Tables 8.4 and 8.5 relate to expenditure to 31 March 2013 that was incurred by Forestry Commission Wales. Expenditure in Wales from 1 April 2013 is excluded from the tables.

Net expenditure on public forests by the Forestry Commission in 2016-17 totalled £34 million. This comprised £16 million in Scotland and £18 million in England.

Recreation, conservation & heritage accounted for £71 million of the total expenditure in 2016-17, harvesting & haulage for £36 million and other expenditure on public forests for £89 million.

Timber sales generated a total income of £104 million in 2016-17. Recreation, conservation & heritage accounted for a further £30 million and other income from public forests for £28 million.

Table 8.4 Funding public forests – net expenditure^1,2,3, 2012-13 – 2016-17

^{Source: Forestry Commission}

^Notes:

^{1. Forestry Commission expenditure only. Excludes expenditure incurred by other departments.}

^{2. Excludes notional cost of capital and any surplus/deficit on sale of properties.}

^{3. Excludes gain on revaluation of biological assets and value of timber felled.}

^{4. Recreation, etc includes conservation and heritage.}

^{.. Denotes data not available; responsibility for forestry in Wales transferred to Natural Resources Wales on 1 April 2013.}