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Forest Service Agency

This statement sets out the key performance targets for Forest Service. Forest Service is an executive agency of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland. It is responsible for promoting the interests of forestry in Northern Ireland, the development of afforestation, the production and supply of timber and the maintenance of adequate reserves of growing trees. This includes the delivery of social, recreational and environmental benefits for the public at large. In March this year, a strategy for the delivery of forestry policy in Northern Ireland was published and I have set the agency the following targets for the 2006-07 business year to give effect to this:"To establish 500 hectares of new plantations;""To sell 400,000m3 of timber to the wood processing sector;""To retain certification under the UK Woodland Assurance Standard;""To attract at least 400,000 paying visitors to forests; and""To deliver efficiency savings of £1.27 million."