Could softwood availability really fall?

Forestry experts have warned of a big drop off in the UK supply of softwood over the next 50 years.

Forest research released their latest data based on National Forest Inventory (NFI) reports which takes a national look at the UK’s woodlands and forestry. The data shows that soft wood will reduce in supply by around 60% between now and 2070.

Which sounds bad. And it probably is in the long term. Because if there’s less timber about, that means less harvesting, turnover of sites, replanting and so on. And all of those things mean fewer jobs for people like you and me.

It also makes it harder to attract people into the industry and could mean that the UK is more reliant on imports (already a big issue).

But there is a ray of hope. Most productive timber crops - Sitka spruce, Norway spruce - take around 35-40 years to mature under current climate conditions. So it’s not too late to take action and plant more woodlands and focus away from unproductive broadleaves and ‘carbon’ woodlands into more commercially focused forestry.

Whatever happens, the global demand for timber is set to rise which should lead to increased prices and better investment in the industry in the UK and globally. And that’s something to focus on while we wait for politicians to get their act together.

Happy Job Hunting

Jack

P.S. If you enjoyed this, why not send it to someone else who might like it. Oh and check out the job posts on our Facebook page - remember to like and share them!

In this section we highlight our favourite opportunity each week.

What?: Senior Programme Manager (Woodland Creation)

Who?: Zora Ecosystems (formerly Zulu)

Where?: Scotland

How Much?: £50-60k + equity + Benefits

Apply directly

🌲 Sitka spruce was first discovered in 1791-1792 along the Pacific Northwest coast (Alaska to California) by Scottish botanist Archibald Menzies during Captain Vancouver's expedition. Menzies was born in Weem in Perthshire in 1754.