ConFor and Forestry Commission action for a low-carbon economy

Following on from the successful launch of the hard-hitting report, "Combating climate change: A role for UK forests", the Forestry Commission and ConFor have agreed to work together to identify how the forestry and wood-using sector can best make a contribution to the transition to a low-carbon economy.

"Forestry and wood can provide significant employment, business and carbon benefits", said Colin Mann, chairman of ConFor. "We need the evidence to understand the scale of this contribution and how wood can be best utilised, and then ensure that politicians, users of wood and the wider public are properly informed".

The "Combating climate change" report provides a strong body of evidence on the key role that forestry and wood can play in climate change mitigation and adaptation. It also provides a good basis on which to build in the employment and business benefits that can be secured by planting new forests and utilising sustainably produced wood for markets such as construction and energy.

"There is increasing political recognition of the important role the sector can play in both mitigating and adapting to climate change, as well as in supporting the transition to a low carbon economy", said Tim Rollinson, director general of the Forestry Commission. "I welcome the opportunity to work with key stakeholders, such as ConFor, to better understand both what can be achieved and to inform target audiences".

As part of the co-operative approach, work is underway on a joint conference for politicians and key decision-makers with Forestry Commission Scotland in spring 2010 to highlight the significant contribution that forestry and wood can make to mitigating climate change in the key areas of land-use, energy and construction; and how that contribution can be increased. 

Consideration is currently being given to holding a similar conference in London later in the year.

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Notes to editors

1. Using wood instead of other building materials saves on average 0.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide per cubic metre.

Source: Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management

Three tonnes of CO₂ can be saved by using timber-frame from the 20 tonne CO₂ footprint of a typical 3-bedroom detached house.
                                                                                                                   
Increasing the timber content, including softwood cladding, can reduce the footprint to 2.4 tonnes - a total reduction of 17.6 tonnes CO₂.

Source: Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management Report 196, Carbon benefits of Timber in Construction, 2006.   

2. The Sir David Read report is at www.forestry.gov.uk/climatechange It states: "Woodlands planted since 1990, coupled to an enhanced woodland creations programme of 23,200ha per year (14,840ha additional to the 8360ha per year assume in business as usual projections) over the next 40 years, could, by 2050, be delivering, on an annual basis, emissions abatement equivalent to 10% of GHG emissions at that time. Such a programme would represent a 4% change in land cover and would bring UK forest area to 16% which would still be well below the European average."

3. The key findings are:

A clear need for more woodlands

An asset to be managed wisely

The status quo is not an option

Harvesting and use of wood increases forestry's mitigation potential

Trees help people adapt

The report stresses, that while gaps for further research have been identified, of equal importance is communicating the findings to decision-makers, to enable trees, woodlands and forestry to be placed at the heart of climate change policy.

4. For further information, please contact Stuart Goodall: 0131 240 1410 or 07760 557448 or stuart.goodall@confor.org.uk

5. ConFor (Confederation of Forest industries) represents forestry and wood-using businesses from nurseries and growers to wood-processing end-users in the UK. http://www.confor.org.uk/