The Forestry Contracting Association (FCA) has expressed concern over the steeply rising average age of forestry workers.
It says there is a shortage of young people entering the forest industry – a situation which needs to be addressed immediately.
Earlier this year, the association launched a 12-month training and support project across the Highlands & Islands to recruit eight people into the forest contracting sector, and four places remain to be filled.
The project aims to pair recruits with existing businesses which agree to provide a paid job and specialist machinery and equipment.
