Great expectations

Scotland, like the rest of the UK, remains one of the least forested countries in Europe.

For many people, forestry is synonymous with Scotland; be it in terms of its contribution to the economy, the landscape, or the lives of people in rural areas.

Forestry is, by its very nature, a long-term undertaking and today’s professional foresters continue to learn and to apply new thinking to silviculture. The practice of forestry continues to evolve and forestry today is very different from that seen a generation ago, not least in terms of the focus on sustainable forest management and the delivery of multiple benefits.

The development of Scotland’s forestry and forest products sector is a significant and impressive success story. Scotland’s sustainably managed forests provide unique and valuable economic, social and environmental benefits. However, many people do not appreciate their real value; for example, the sector contributes some £1billion annually to the economy, together with 25,000 jobs, mainly in rural areas. Although there is widespread public liking for trees, woods, forests and wood products, many people do not realise the scale of the forestry industry in Scotland and fail to make the connection between trees and a wide range of wood products derived from them.

Scotland has a WorldClass, globally competitive forest products industry, which produces a wide range of sawn timber products, wood based panel products and paper products for many markets. Scottish sawmills have achieved substantial growth in market share in recent years; today, about 40% of the softwood used in the UK, in markets as diverse as construction, pallets, packaging, fencing and garden products, is derived from our forests. This represents a doubling of market share over the past 20 years, largely as a consequence of import substitution. Significant investment is continuing throughout the wood supply chain; involving timber harvesting contractors, timber hauliers, sawmills and other wood processing plants. Scotland’s forestry and forest products sector has a very good story to tell.

The wood supply chain continues to change too; for many years, the Forestry Commission has been the principal supplier of wood to the industry, however, today, private sector timber growers are playing an increasingly important part, although the Forestry Commission retains important roles in overseeing forestry.

Whilst the forestry sector continues to make a valuable contribution to Scotland, in economic, social and environmental terms, there is a significant challenge facing the sector – the question of continuity of wood supply. This is an essential ingredient of business confidence and continued investment. Forecasts show that production from UK forests, in both the public and private sectors, is expected to peak around 2030 and then decline; this simply reflects the age profile of our forests. It is therefore a matter of very considerable importance that productive woodland creation proceeds apace. Disturbingly, woodland creation in Scotland, as in England and Wales, has fallen to perilously low levels in recent years, however, there is hope, in Scotland at least. The good news is that the Scottish Government recognises the value of the forestry sector and it is determined to ensure its ambitious and laudable woodland creation targets are achieved. Indeed, it has recently increased its woodland creation target from 10,000 hectares per year to 15,000 hectares a year by 2025. This is very heartening for the forestry industry. There is further good news too, the Scottish Government commissioned a review of the official woodland creation approval process last year.

Opportunities to streamline and accelerate the process were identified and changes are now being implemented. There are great expectations that improvements will be made, to facilitate increased woodland creation. It is noteworthy that there is said to be no shortage of private sector funds available for investment in forestry.

Scotland, like the rest of the UK, remains one of the least forested countries in Europe. Tree cover in Scotland is about 18% of land area, whilst the European average is about 40%. In recent years, there have been several UK Government reports that have called for increased tree cover and greater use of wood products, together with recognition of the important role that trees and wood products play in mitigating the effects of climate change and contributing to a low carbon economy.

There is the question of land availability to be addressed and we should consider in which areas of Scotland forestry could be a more productive land use. The Scottish Government’s Woodland Expansion Advisory Group recommended that 100,000 hectares of new woodland should be created during the period 2012-2022. It also recommended an increased emphasis on producing wood. To help reduce conflicts with other land uses, woodland creation should, wherever possible, complement and integrate with other landuse objectives. It has already been shown that upland sheep farming and forestry can be complementary.

David Sulman, Executive Director of the UK Forest Products Association, said “We are at a critical stage in the development of the Scottish forestry industry. We have seen remarkable achievements and success and we can see the potential for more. The Scottish Government’s renewed enthusiasm for forestry as a vitally important element of the rural economy is welcomed and we are optimistic that given an official presumption in favour for forestry, with an emphasis on productive woodland creation, that success will follow. Given a more positive approach, Scotland could look forward to its forests and woodlands and the businesses dependent on them, making an even greater contribution to the economy, the environment and society. We would reiterate our plea for more trees, guided by the principle of the right tree, in the right place, at the right time - that time is now and it is the chance of a lifetime”.

David Sulman