A manifesto designed to help restore economic vitality to UK woodlands and forestry has been launched by the Forestry & Timber Association (FTA).

The document, the result of wide-ranging rural consultation, is the outcome of the Level Playing Field process which included the publication of a discussion paper and forestry debates in each of the four UK nations.

It sets out areas where forestry is disadvantaged and proposals for restoring the balance.

&#8220The manifesto is ambitious, but FTA is confident that significant economic improvement in the sector is achievable”

FTA Northern Ireland chairman Robert Scott

The FTA’s Northern Ireland chairman Robert Scott, who launched the manifesto at the International Forest Machinery Exhibition, said: “The manifesto is ambitious, but FTA is confident that significant economic improvement in the sector is achievable, although we recognise that some gains may take some time to materialise.”

The document will frame the representational agenda of the FTA for several years to come.