New forestry bill ‘must commit to tree planting’

Scotland’s new forestry bill has been criticised for failing to do enough to secure the future of the £1 billion industry.

The forest and wood lobbying group Confor says not enough attention has been paid to planting trees and ensuring wood supplies.

It was responding to the publication of the Stage 1 report on the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill by Holyrood’s rural economy and connectivity committee.

Confor chief executive Stuart Goodall said the report was “a good start”.

“But more needs to be done to ensure the new legislation secures the future of the forestry and timber sector, which is worth £1 billion to Scotland’s economy and employs more than 25,000 people,” he said.

“I welcome the report’s recognition of the importance of securing future wood production, but I am disappointed that this vital issue is to be left for consideration by future forestry strategies without any recognition of its importance in the bill.

“The bill should say that all future strategies should formally assess future wood supply and how that can be secured.”

There will be a parliamentary debate on the Stage 1 report by November 10 and if approved, the bill will move on to Stage 2, with final legislation expected in spring 2018.

But more needs to be done ... STUART GOODALL OF CONFOR