Forestry Commission Wales wants to hear customers views on the way it sells up to 30,000 lorry loads of timber from Welsh Assembly Government woodlands every year.
It is seeking people’s views on a revised marketing strategy at a time of increased demand for this renewable material, with new markets and opportunities emerging.
The strategy sets out the principles on which timber from Assembly Government woodlands will be sold and aims to support job creation and ensure that more Welsh-grown timber is used in Wales, thereby helping to reduce our carbon footprint.
FC Wales already sells enough timber to fill the Albert Hall more than seven times over every year, but it wants to ensure that the right type of timber gets to the right place.
The marketing strategy covers the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2016 and reflects Woodlands for Wales, the Assembly Government’s woodland strategy.
Hugh Jones, head of FC Wales’s timber production said, “Demand for sustainable Welsh timber has grown enormously in the past five years and we expect this trend to continue.
“This is a challenging time for the industry but new demand for timber is great news for timber growers. Higher prices mean that more woodland owners can afford to bring their woodlands into active management, increasing the total amount of timber available and increasing employment opportunities.”
About 14% of Wales is covered by woodlands and FC Wales manages the 311,000 acres owned by the Welsh Assembly Government, which make up 38% of Wales’s total woodland cover.
All the timber sold from Assembly Government woodlands carries the internationally recognised Forest Stewardship Council logo and is registered with the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification scheme.
Both these independent certification schemes are widely recognised as evidence that the timber carrying them is sourced from sustainably-managed forests.
Timber production from the Assembly Government woodlands complies with the requirements of the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme and supports the wider sustainable management objectives set out in Woodlands for Wales.
FC Wales policy advisor Chris Edwards said, “There are many ways in which the management of woodland, timber production and use of timber can help deliver the Assembly Government’s wider objectives.
“Research in this area is constantly throwing up new information, so we need to be flexible in our approach. It’s all about getting the right timber to the right customers in the way they want it.”
FC Wales will continue to sell timber on a wholesale basis through its e-sales system and will not generally engage in retail sales.
Opinions on the timber marketing strategy closes on 19 November and the strategy will be launched at the annual trade liaison meeting on 27 January, 2011.
Customers can give their views on the strategy by contacting Claire Evans on [email protected]
