Efforts to promote the use of Scottish-grown timber, especially in the housebuilding industry, are being backed by the Highland Forestry Forum.
The forum, which advises Forestry Commission Scotland on local issues in the Highlands and Islands, held its third meeting recently.
Afterwards, chairman Ian Ross said members agreed a priority for forestry in the Highlands and Islands was to make builders and other timber users aware of the availability, diversity and potential uses of timber grown in Scotland.
Mr Ross said: “The Highland Forestry Forum recognises the very important contribution that Scottish timber can make to the effective provision of sustainable housing in the Highlands.
“There are already some existing examples of good building practice based on home-grown timber, but there is a very real need to increase awareness of the exciting opportunities that greater and more creative use of Scottish timber can offer.
“Scottish timber is a locally sourced, renewable material that provides a diverse range of opportunities in terms of innovative, striking appearance and ease of future maintenance. It also has the added benefit of generating important rural and wider economic development spin-offs. This is very much sustainability in action.”
