THE government has been urged not to scrap the body that manages most of the New Forest.

The Forestry Commission was on a leaked list of public sector bodies which the Coalition is considering scrapping in a bid to save money.

But Julian Lewis, Tory MP for New Forest East, said any decision to axe the Forestry Commission would wreck the “delicate balance” of organisations that ran the area.

The commission is responsible for 145 square miles of woods and heathland, as well as paths, cycle tracks and 134 rural car parks.

It is also a major shareholder in Forest Holidays, an independent company that runs the Forest campsites.

But the commission, which employs 100 people in Wiltshire, Dorset and the New Forest, could fall victim to plans to slash the number of quangos, government-appointed advisory and administrative organisations.

Scores of other bodies across the country are also under threat.

However, Britain’s National Park Authorities, including the New Forest, are understood to have been told that their future is secure.

If the Forestry Commission is scrapped ministers will either privatise the service or transfer its workload to the Department for Food and Rural Affairs.

Dr Lewis said: “It’s hard to see that any private organisation could be reliably entrusted with managing an area as delicate and sensitive as the New Forest.”

He added: “My initial reaction is that it would be inappropriate and unwise to cause a further upheaval in the delicate balance of voluntary and professional bodies which between them protect and manage the New Forest.”

Ministers have already agreed to scrap 180 quangos and are reviewing the future of 100 others – including the commission.

Cllr Barry Rickman, leader of New Forest District Council, said: “Given Britain’s horrendous debt I’m not surprised that everything is being looked at.

“The Forestry Commission has served us well but I can’t comment any further without knowing what alternatives are on offer.”