Ewing unveils investment drive in Scotland’s forests
With the full devolution of control over Forestry Commission Scotland taking place this year as the industry celebrates 100 years of public ownership, a series of multimillion pound measures have been announced by the Scottish Government to launch the industry into its next century.
Speaking at a trade dinner last night, rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing said that 2019 was a pivotal year which would see the industry entering “a new chapter”, with full devolution, new legislation and the creation of two new agencies.
“The Scottish Government is making a huge investment in the future of forestry, because we all have a stake in the future benefits that flow from these trees;” said the minister, ”be they as resources for manufacturers, inspiring classrooms for our children or as massive carbon stores.”
Measures announced to boost growth in the sector included £7 million for timber transport projects across Scotland – up from £2.85m in 2016 – while £20m will also be invested in replanting across the national forest estate by Forestry and Land Scotland, a measure which it was claimed would guarantee the supply of around a third of all timber supplied in Scotland.
Over 200km of forest roads on the national forest estate will also be built and upgraded to allow better access to the timber – equivalent to the distance from Edinburgh to Aviemore – while £7m will be spent on deer management to protect trees and the environment.
But Ewing said that planting more trees and growing forests and woodlands should be a shared national endeavour: “Forestry businesses are key to achieving our ambitions – I hope they too will do all they can to invest in forestry’s future in the coming year and beyond.”
Stuart Goodall, chief executive of the forestry and wood trade body, Confor, said that forestry was a maturing industry worth £1 billion annually to the Scottish economy and providing more than 25,000 green jobs.
He said he welcomed the Scottish Government’s efforts to help secure future wood supply, including investment in the national forest estate which he said was an important timber supplier both now and in the future.
“The forestry industry has the potential to play a greater role partnering with government in realising the opportunities for further growth, including delivering on Scotland’s climate change ambitions by planting more trees and using more wood in construction,” said Goodall.