Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk
Scottish Climate Change Bill:
Scottish Climate Change Bill - Facts and Figures
Further Information
The economic and social contribution of forestry for people in Scotland FCS Research Note by David Edwards, Jake Morris, Liz O’Brien, Vadims Sarajevs and Gregory Valat (Sept 2008)
On 4th November 2008 Michael Russell the Scottish Minister launched a consultation that seeks views on how the Scottish Government can make better use of the assets of Scotland's national forest estate in the fight against climate change.
This page contains some background information about the views of Forestry Commission staff, along with some facts and figures about the contribution that forestry makes to Scotland.
The FCTU's Position
The FCTU's position on the proposed forestry amendment to the climate change bill is as follows:
- The unions support in principle the Scottish Government’s attempts to address the issues raised by climate change, and recognise the need for the FC as manager of the National Forest Estate and a leader within the industry to do what it can to support the Scottish Government’s agenda on this area.
- We broadly support the need to maximise the National Forest Estate’s contribution to this agenda; particularly through greater partnership working, through the sustainable sequestration of additional carbon, through the expansion of renewable energy programmes and through support for promoting sustainable local communities.
- We are however very sceptical of the plans to release capital through the leasing of management and cutting rights on the National Forest Estate to foreign investment companies. We are concerned at the lack of a viable business model to underpin the proposals.
- We are strongly opposed to any plans that will result in a loss of good quality Scottish jobs including the TUPE transfer of Scottish jobs to foreign-owned private management companies. Despite suggestions that the proposal to lease management rights over the National Forest Estate may create jobs; in the absence of any viable business case to underpin these suggestions it is our belief that the proposals could result in the loss of several hundred good quality jobs in some of Scotland’s remotest rural areas in the forestry, timber processing, recreation and tourism sectors.
- The FCTU will be responding to the proposals both through a direct submission to the consultation paper and through engagement with MSPs and other key stakeholders. We have already begun to engage directly with MSPs and will continue this process over the coming weeks.
Scottish Forestry Facts and Figures†
The current woodland resource
- Currently 1.3M ha woodland in Scotland (17% of land area). ¼ is broadleaf, ¾ is conifer.
- Pre-1970s legacy of coniferous plantations being actively restructured and diversified with associated landscape and biodiversity improvements. Native woodlands being expanded.
Economic
- Scottish forestry sector sustains 20,000 full-time equivalent jobs, plus around 17,900 full-time equivalent jobs in the tourism and recreation sectors attributable to woodland.
- Forestry about 0.5% of the total gross value added for the Scottish economy. Proportionally more significant contribution in rural areas.
- Scottish wood 5.5% value share of UK market in 2006.
- Scottish timber production was 6.6Mm3 in 2006. Will peak around 2020 and then decline without new planting.
Social
- In 2007, 569 schools involved in woodland based learning activities.
- 63% of Scottish children and 50% of adults made around 50M visits to Scottish woodlands.
- 138 community woodland groups active in Scotland with 13,500 total membership.
- Since 2004 Woods In and Around Towns Initiative brought 8K ha of urban woods into active management, created 1K ha of new urban woods, created or improved 300km of paths and involved 37K people in events.
- % of people living within 500m of accessible woodland risen from 15% to 23% since 2004.
Environmental
- ¾ of UK BAP woodland habitats and species stable or improving.
- Currently 0.4M ha of native woodland (native pine woods and native broadleaved woodlands)
- Around 4k ha of native woodland being created annually.
- Commitments to restore 34K ha of plantation on ancient woodland sites
- On target for 0.6MtC savings through woodland creation and use of wood fuel by 2010.
- Scotland’s first woodland removal policy established in 2008.
- Trials being established to demonstrate role of woodland in sustainable flood management.
- Over 13K ancient monuments protected under forest management plan or agreement.
†Sourced from an FC Scotland Press Briefing Note