The government has recognised the value of productive conifer forests in a new policy document, vindicating an intense lobbying effort by the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor).
The government had consulted widely on a policy of removing up to 3,000ha of primarily productive forest per year – a move ConFor believed could have hit wood-using businesses. ConFor embarked on an extensive round of media interviews and political lobbying on the policy of converting woodland to open habitats.
The policy, published on March 31, recognises that non-native plantations have a “crucial” role to play because of their faster growth and ability to generate higher volumes of timber and woodfuel.
“Confidence in the supply of domestically grown timber is important, and productive woodland, including conifers, will play a positive role in the government’s transition plan to a low-carbon economy,” the policy states.
ConFor chief executive Stuart Goodall said conifers had been originally been targeted because of a belief that they lacked value.
“ConFor has consistently challenged these out-dated perceptions, while stressing the benefits of conifers for a low-carbon economy, their importance to wood-using businesses, and their vital role in supporting the cost of sustainable forestry management,” said Mr Goodall.
The policy document makes clear that any future deforestation should not be at the expense of England’s productive resource and there will be a process of establishing new productive forests ahead of any future, more limited losses.
This will help address declining industry confidence as a result of accelerating losses of productive forest.
