Current News
Monday 04 December 2006
An independent study shows that demand for wood is increasing, but that future supplies may fail to keep pace, resulting in a missed opportunity to tackle climate change and secure greater investment and new jobs in Scotland and Northern England.
The research was commissioned by 21 leading wood processors and woodland management companies to provide a clearer forward picture of the potential wood supply and demand balance in Scotland and Northern England for the period to 2016.
A total of 60 companies and individuals from wood processing and wood-fired energy plants supplied confidential information on their supply and demand for coniferous roundwood and sawmill co-products. The study also had input from the Forestry Commission, the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor) and the Wood Panel Industry Federation.
The report found that demand for wood – which includes logs, sawdust, chips, bark and other biomass – may outstrip supply from 2007 if all of the potential plans of the wood processing and wood energy sectors were to proceed as forecast.
Alan Bloomfield, convenor of the study steering group, acknowledges the challenge of matching future wood supply and demand but believes that the forecast identifies important opportunities for the commercial production and utilisation of wood in Scotland and Northern England.
He said: “Scotland and Northern England have the potential to increase the supply of wood from their forests because there are forests that are currently not sustainably and optimally managed, have difficult access, and would benefit from active management to promote biodiversity and public access.”
“It would also be sensible to produce and utilise more wood of all types, including wood from sources other than coniferous roundwood and sawmill co-products.”
To read full story
back to News Index