Scotland’s forest and timber sector can double in value in the next 15 years, according to a new document.
Roots for Future Growth – an ambitious industry strategy published by the Scottish Forest and Timber Technologies Advisory Group – says the sector can add £1.1bn of extra value to the Scottish economy by 2025.
It says the industry – currently worth £1.67bn and supporting 38,500 jobs – can sustain current annual growth of 4%.
Its objectives include growing the area of new productive forest planting, expanding the market share and value-added nature of Scotland’s forest products and boosting industry skills.
Chairman of the advisory group John Kissock said the strategy represented an important milestone for the industry.
“Many years of sustained capital investment have given Scotland a solid base of internationally competitive timber processing facilities,” he said.
“The opportunity now is to deliver sustained growth in the establishment of productive forests, allied to innovation in product and process development which can add value to the raw material grown here in Scotland.
“To do so will not only restore confidence in investors and those employed in the industry, but will also ensure the industry is able to maximise its potential impact on both the economic and environmental well being of Scotland.”
“Despite the challenging economic climate, we believe that Scotland’s forest and timber sector has the capacity to double over the next 15 years and it is vital that the industry works together to grasp all of the available opportunities,” said Alistair McKinnon, director of forest and timber technologies, Scottish Enterprise.
The industry advisory group represents a cross section of Scotland’s forest and timber industries including growers, sawmills, manufacturers, timber merchants, architects and academia alongside representatives of four regional industry groups.
It is supported by Scottish Enterprise, Forestry Commission Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
