At the first meeting of the Scottish Timber Market Impacts Group, hosted by Forestry Commission Scotland, members heard of the potential short and long-term impacts of increased volumes of domestic softwood timber entering the market.
Group chairman Hamish Macleod, of BSW Timber, said significant volumes of timber affected by Dothistroma needle blight and phytophthora ramorum were already now hitting the markets.
“Both the public and private sectors will have to work together to ensure that we manage the potential impact of larger volumes of material from diseased forests coming onto the market, as well as considering what this means for future crops,” said Mr MacLeod.
He also said additional work was required on the recently published 25-year softwood availability forecast for Scotland.
“The new 25-year forecast of potential softwood availability highlighted that we have more timber than we previously thought,” he said. “However, we need to carry out further analysis to understand what realistically could come to market.”
The group wants to produce a 50-year forecast, which it deems as “crucial” for continued future investment in the industry.
It will report to Forestry Commission Scotland’s national committee in 2013 with an analysis of the situation and recommendations going forward. Companies/organisations represented in the group include BSW, James Jones, Buccleuch Group, Norbord, Euroforest, Scottish Woodlands, Confor, Iggesund, Egger, Gordon Timber, Jenkinsons, UK Forest Products Association, Forest Enterprise Scotland and Forestry Commission Scotland.
