Forestry Commission Scotland has unveiled some practical measures to help bring stability and confidence to the forest sector in the current difficult market conditions.
The commission, which decided on actions with ConFor and the UK Forest Products Association, said measures included continuing to operate normal contract and credit arrangements and offering reasonable extensions to contracts.
Other action includes a commitment to offer sales plan volumes to the market to ensure continuity of supply and retention of skills, negotiating changes to payment profiles in exceptional circumstances, setting sale reserves based on a realistic view of the market and making sure harvesting contractors and hauliers are paid promptly.
“These are unprecedented market conditions and we all understand the need to move fast in response to the fluctuating market,” said Scottish minister for the environment Michael Russell.
“The commission has taken steps to ease the pressure on hard-pressed businesses and is looking hard at additional ways in which it can help the rural industries.”
But Mr Russell warned that the downturn in forestry was not something the commission could resolve alone.
“The whole sector has to pull together until we see a return to normal trading conditions.”
