Speaking at the Senned this week, Mr Irranca-Davies said: “Managing forests sustainably for timber production is a prime example of green and sustainable and economic growth.
“When trees are harvested, carbon sequestered when they were growing remains stored in the timber, and when that timber is then put to long term use like in furniture or building houses, then that carbon stays locked away and not going into the atmosphere.
“Meanwhile trees are replanted sequestering more carbon and the cycle continues.”
Confor has pressed for such a strategy to ensure our forests are productive, produce the type of wood required for key sectors such as housebuilding and construction, and to facilitate the skills development needed to support that.
“The development of a Timber Industry Strategy for Wales is a big step forward, and I encourage all Confor members and the wider industry to respond to it to make their views known,” said Elaine Heckley MICFor, Confor national manager for Wales, who met with the Cabinet Secretary this week.
The forestry and the wood processing sector plays an important role in the Welsh rural economy. The forestry industry is worth an annual £680m to the Welsh economy and supports around 11,300 jobs, as well as contributing significantly to Welsh climate change mitigation by sequestering carbon in both growing trees and the wood products manufactured from harvested timber.
“For this sector to thrive and grow and add even more to the economy and jobs in rural Wales, we need a clear strategy to secure future wood supplies from Welsh forests,” said Ms Heckley. “We also need to reduce our current reliance on imported timber. By doing so, we will stop offshoring our responsibilities and secure more local timber to support our Welsh Timber industry.”
The Consultation runs 16 April 16, 2025 and Confor will work alongside the Welsh government to arrange a series of in-person consultation events.
