About the Northern Ireland Forest Service
The Forest Service is an Executive Agency within the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. In carrying out its remit, the Agency is subject to the overall direction of the Minister with responsibility for the Department.
Management and Accountability
The Chief Executive is responsible to the Minister for the Agency's operations and performance. The Minister determines the policy framework within which the Agency operates, the level of resources made available each year and the scope of our activities. The Minister also approves the Corporate and Business Plans, sets key performance targets and monitors our performance.
The Forest Service became an Agency on 1 April 1998. The Agency's Framework Document sets out the context within which it operates. This includes its role, business objectives, performance measures, relationship with the Department and its accountability to the Minister and since 8th May 2007 the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The aims of the Agency set out in the Framework Document are:
“to contribute to the economic development of the entire forestry sector in Northern Ireland, whilst at the same time promoting the sustainable management of forests for multiple use and conserving and enhancing the rural environment”.
Forest Service objectives give practical expression to these aims and are as follows:
Operational
- to encourage the extension of the areas of public and private woodland in Northern Ireland.
- to promote the supply of wood from within Northern Ireland for industrial use.
- to promote access to and use of Northern Ireland forests.
- to protect and conserve forests and the associated areas of special natural and heritage interest.
Customer Service
- to pursue continuous improvement in the delivery and quality of service available to the public in line with the principles set down in the Agency's Customer Charters.
Value for Money/Efficiency
- to maximise operational use and financial returns on the assets of the Forest Service estate through wood production and the exploitation of commercial opportunities.
- to secure on-going value for money and improve efficiency and effectiveness in the management of the Agency through the application of best management practice and standards.
- to extend private sector competition and other efficiency measures in the provision of services, including, where possible, the development of public and private sector partnerships.
- to promote the involvement of private finance in Northern Ireland forestry.
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