Wood you believe it

Published on Monday 28 November 2005 01:47

THE Forestry Commission has just published Forestry Statistics 2005, an annual publication presenting statistics on woodland, forestry and primary wood processing in the United Kingdom.

The publication shows that:

• The total woodland area in the United Kingdom is 2.8 million hectares, 1.2 million hectares independently certified as sustainably managed.

• 12 thousand hectares (30,000 acres) of new woodland were created in 2004-5.

• A total of 8.8 million green tonnes (weight when freshly felled) of UK timber were delivered to primary wood processors and others in 2004.

• Wood products imported into the United Kingdom in 2004 were valued at 6.4 billion and were equivalent to 52 million cubic metres of timber underbark (roundwood volume excluding bark).

• The UK was the fourth largest net importer of forest products in 2004, behind the USA, China and Japan. The largest net exporters were Canada, Finland and Sweden;

A survey of public opinion of forestry across Great Britain reported that about two thirds of adults had visited woodland during the past few years.