A project to develop a National Centre of Excellence for Forestry Industries Technology has been launched at Barony College, near Dumfries.
With some backing already in place and other funding being sought, the centre is being created to ‘meet the needs of key industry areas such as forestry, engineering, arboriculture, wood processing and allied industries’.
In partnership with forest industries at local, national and international level, the centre will look to ‘enhance the development and delivery of education, training and expertise throughout the UK and Europe’, providing continued professional development as well as R&D services.
A pilot programme of forestry and engineering units carrying Scottish Qualification Authority recognition is due to be launched in September. Areas to be covered will include: planning control of forest operations; environmental protection relating to machinery; measurement of felled timber; harvesting systems and machinery; forest machinery operational techniques; repair and servicing of forest harvesting machinery; and maintenance of plant and equipment.
