Timber emerges as rural boom industry

Figures released yesterday confirmed the Scottish timber industry is enjoying a boom time, with harvesting at its highest recorded level yet.

The most recent figures show seven-and-a-half million cubic metres were harvested last year, which is half a million more than the previous year.

At the same time, Scotland’s sawmillers produced 7 per cent more sawn timber, with much of it being sent to markets in England. The price has also strengthened, with timber prices 2 per cent higher in real terms compared to 2010.

All of this home activity is helping to reduce this country’s traditional reliance on timber imports.

Welcoming the news, environment and climate change minister Stewart Stevenson said it was excellent news, especially when the wider economy was in the doldrums.

“As a mainstay of our rural economy, forestry plays a vital role in safeguarding communities and businesses across the country and is increasingly winning a bigger stake in the domestic and international timber markets.”

Stevenson said he expected the current high volume of forestry business to continue as Scotland’s forests were maturing.

“Over the next ten to 15 years, we expect to see further increases in harvesting. This should result in a steadier supply and bigger volumes of timber produced from Scotland’s forests.”

In financial terms, it is estimated the forestry sector contributes approximately £670 million each year to the Scottish economy.

It supports around 31,000 jobs, mainly in the rural economy.

Stuart Goodall, chief executive of Confor, representing the industry, focused on both the economic and the environment benefits of the sector.

He said: “It is indigenous, low-carbon and, if future supplies of wood are secured, has the potential to attract continued investment and deliver even more growth and jobs.”.