The Scottish forestry minister Roseanna Cunningham has asked the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor) to come up with ideas on how to fund the expansion of forestry in Scotland.
“The minister is still fresh to the post and it is great that she has taken the time to meet us twice already, and will do so again next week”, said Stuart Goodall, chief executive of ConFor.
“It is very positive that she recognises the urgent need for new planting and understands the important role of the private sector, as well as, the Forestry Commission.”
Mr Goodall said the minister shared ConFor’s aspirations for a “successful business sector that plays a role in mitigating climate change”.
“But, quite rightly, she made it clear that any proposals we come forward with should be sustainable and practical, and deliver the levels of new planting that we all support.”
ConFor suggested to the minister that part of the funds raised from existing sales of public forests could deliver new planting through the government’s grant scheme to support private sector planting.
This, it said, would be considerably cheaper in the short term and achieve greater levels of planting than Forestry Commission planting alone, which would require land purchase.
