Scottish government consults on future of Scottish forestry

UK industry group the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor) described the consultation as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to secure the future of a successful £1bn industry.

The consultation, which runs until November 9, covers a proposal for new organisational arrangements for Forestry Commission Scotland; questions regarding future cross-border co-ordination on forestry; and questions on how legislation should be framed to deliver the new arrangements.

ConFor has argued that the sector would benefit from a continued strong core of professional civil servants within the Scottish government devoted to forestry with the expertise to understand and support modern forestry practices.

It has also made strong representation regarding the significant productive forest resource managed by the Forestry Commission. It says the resource is a key asset that has helped support the significant growth of wood processing in Scotland and it was vitally important to have a guaranteed future timber supply.

“While other sectors have struggled to recover from the 2008 downturn, Scotland’s forestry and wood processing industry has grown by 50 per cent – and in addition to contributing £1bn a year to the economy, the sector employs over 25,000 people”, said ConFor chief executive Stuart Goodall.

“Scotland is the clear UK leader in forestry and there is now a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish a support and regulatory structure that can build on and further strengthen that leadership position.”

The consultation also proposes that there will be cross-border co-operation with the other countries of the UK on areas such as research, pests and diseases and standards for forest management.