IT'S official: the Government wants to sell off Forestry Commission land, and protesters are already rallying in the Dean to form a formidable resistance.

If it becomes law, the Public Bodies Bill, introduced to Parliament last Friday, would allow the Government to substantially reform the Forestry Commission and sell its land, including removing the special protection the Statutory Forest of Dean has enjoyed for 800 years, most recently in the Forestry Act 1981.

Almost 2,000 people so far have joined a chorus of dissent through Facebook groups – including nearly 1,500 on The Forester's Hands Off Our Forest campaign page.

The Forester and The Forest & Wye Valley Review are now launching a joint petition to keep the Forest of Dean in public hands. Campaigners are forming a steering group and there are plans to stage a hastily organised rally from 6 to 7pm, before Saturday's Fern Bonfire at Speech House.

In a letter to MPs, Defra minister Jim Paice sought to allay concerns, stating: "We will not compromise the protection of our most valuable and biodiverse forests. Full measures will remain in place to preserve the public benefits of woods and forests under any new ownership arrangements.

"Tree-felling is controlled through the licensing system managed by the Forestry Commission, public rights of way and access will be unaffected, statutory protection for wildlife will remain in force and there will be grant incentives for new planting that can be applied for.

"When publishing our proposals we will explore further the options for securing and increasing the wide range of public benefits currently delivered by Government ownership and how they might be achieved at lower cost."

Mark Harper, the Forest's MP – and Government Cabinet member said: "I welcome the fact that this announcement confirms that all the things the public values about the Forest of Dean will be protected under the Government's new approach to the ownership and management of woodlands and forests.

"The letter confirms that my constituents can be confident that their rights of access, local traditions, protection of wildlife and control of development are not under any threat."

Mr Harper said fears the Forest could be cleared to make way for golf courses and holiday complexes are unfounded, as planning, tree-felling and wildlife laws mean development "cannot simply take place".

But under private ownership, public rights of way will extend only to people on foot and commoners' rights to graze sheep, or freemining rights, will not be guaranteed.

Rob Guest, who retired as deputy surveyor in June after more than a decade in charge of the Forest, likened privatising the Forest to "selling the family silver – you only sell it once, it's irreplaceable".

He added: "Almost certainly, the public would lose out given these woods are currently managed for a whole range of public benefits, rather than for private gain. It's a very short-term fix with very long-term implications."

The current deputy surveyor Kevin Stannard said: "The passion and pride that local people show in their Forest is incredible, and we have a cultural gem here.

"The Government's plans and strategy for Forestry will be the subject of consultation later this year. In the meantime, I would advise everyone to come and enjoy the glorious autumn colours while they still can."

The Conservative leader of Forest of Dean District Council, Peter Amos, could not be reached for comment. Leader of the council's Labour group Bruce Hogan said the issue goes "beyond party political lines".

"It's a proposal that I will fight tooth and nail," he said. "There is no way a private owner would allow the same public access and free enjoyment as the Forestry Commission does. One way or another private owners would have to get a return for their investment and they can't get that without it affecting our rights to freely enjoy the woods.

"Personally I can't imagine not being able to walk my dogs in the woods.

"I would hope that Foresters of all political persuasions, and that includes our MP, will get on side because there can be no bigger issue facing us.

"This is a cruel and mean-spirited plan. It's stealing from the public."