Industry must look to supply security

Increasingly, businesses in the sector need to think about security of supply as much as about markets. This is particularly the case in the UK, where businesses that rely on UK-grown timber do not have easy alternatives.

The particular danger from large-scale electricity has been well publicised, and efforts continue to head this off. However, we cannot afford to lose sight of the insidious and cumulative effect of other threats.

Tree pests and disease threaten larch and pine, and others affect hardwood species. A changing climate means that some tree species will no longer remain suitable for wood production in areas they are currently in. Conservation bodies continue to campaign to remove productive forests and against new tree planting – RSPB, in the context of wood pellet imports, has also questioned the sustainability of forestry in Europe and North America. Renewable energy is prompting an expansion of wind farms with Forestry Commission leading the way, clearing hundreds of hectares of productive forest.

These threats have particular focus in the UK, but it’s likely that similar issues will impact overseas.

Initial work has been undertaken to explore incorporating new tree species into new forest management techniques, but this needs to be stepped up. An effective Forestry Commission and Research agency are vital to this work, though industry needs to engage to ensure future tree planting/restocking is suitable for future markets.

Promoting the benefits of managing forests, including harvesting trees sustainably, and planting new productive forests is vital to ensure we secure the feedstock for the future. Image and understanding are key here. ConFor has recently rebranded and is investing time and money through its website, which averages 10,000 unique hits a month, Twitter, media visits and film footage to promote positive messages about forestry and the benefits of wood production.

These activities, alongside repeated professional lobbying, are where trade associations come to the fore – looking long-term and providing a common voice for the sector. It helps businesses secure their future success.

Stuart Goodall is chief executive of Confor.