Let’s make sure we can see the wood and the trees – Stuart Goodall

The coronavirus has been, and still is, truly awful in its impact on people and on society as a whole. While we’re far from being free from its dreadful grip, we do have to begin to prepare for what comes next, including rebuilding an economy that metaphorically fell off a cliff. In doing so, we should grasp the opportunity to do things differently, and safely.

The forestry and wood processing industry is one of few sectors that has partially continued to operate during lockdown. It supplies the wood products needed to keep the country running: pallets and packaging to move food, medicines and medical supplies; woodfuel to heat buildings, including care homes and hospitals. Agricultural fencing has also been vital to ensure livestock safety and support food production.

We’re now beginning to see the first signs of renewed activity in sectors like house-building and construction in England, markets that use a lot of wood, and which could use more.

As we contemplate how to restart the economy, we have an opportunity to introduce change, to beef up efforts to tackle those intractable issues like the challenge of climate change which hasn’t gone away, even if we are giving the planet pause to breathe a little more easily during this time of limited travel and manufacturing.

Governments across the UK are talking about a “Green Recovery” where economic activity can go hand-in-hand with positive environmental benefit.

Forestry and wood is well placed to contribute to this green recovery, particularly in rural Scotland. It is one of very few sectors where greater economic activity delivers greater environmental benefit – less carbon in the atmosphere, more places for wildlife, flood alleviation and much more. Put simply, the usual trade-offs don’t apply.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC), official advisers to the Scottish and UK governments, identified this in letters to both governments two weeks ago. Last week, Lord Deben, CCC Chair, told an online meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Forestry and Tree Planting that both tree planting and wood use were vital to secure a resilient recovery.

Friends of the Earth also want more tree planting and greater use of home-grown wood to reduce the UK’s reliance on imported timber.

Both organisations recognise that greater tree planting and more use of wood will help tackle climate change, and that we now have a unique opportunity to make faster progress towards targets for net zero emissions.

However, achieving that step change is reliant on government action and support, and a renewed partnership with industry.

Before the crisis hit, there had been positive news as all parts of the UK pushed up planting ambitions, although only Scotland was hitting its target. Over the last months, forest nurseries growing young trees for our future forests have been hit by the lock-down, and we’ve been working with both them and the Scottish Government to protect supplies for future years and plan for the future investment required to expand production.

Small businesses that harvest trees would also benefit from meaningful support – bringing in new trainees is particularly challenging for this part of the sector and many sole traders and partnerships would benefit from business advice.

The Scottish Government has been quick to begin to plan for recovery, and we can expect assistance will become available. It is vital this includes support to develop Scotland’s green industries.

Of course, it is also crucial that greater activity is also safe activity. Luckily, we are a largely outdoor industry, with people used to operating alone or at a distance from others. This is why forestry operations have been included in Phase 1 of the Scottish Government’s route map through and out of the crisis

Confor has been helping develop safe working protocols for all parts of the industry to address the practicalities of re-starting or scaling-up operations. Our sector takes its responsibilities very seriously and is committed to returning to work safely; adapting to a “new normal”.

In the coming weeks and months, we have the opportunity to harness UK and Scottish government support for recovery and challenge them to deliver on the rhetoric, to truly take a step-change towards a greener future – with forestry and wood playing its part.

Stuart Goodall is Chief Executive of Confor: promoting forestry and wood