Confor launches Scottish election manifesto for 2026

The manifesto is targeted at all parties contesting the elections to Holyrood in May 2026 and focuses on five key actions the forestry and wood industry would like the next Scottish Government to take:

• Create a homegrown timber industrial strategy for Scotland;
• Meet tree planting targets;
• Use more homegrown wood in construction;
• Create a new Scottish Forestry Strategy for a new decade;
• Develop a forestry and timber skills plan for Scotland.

Introducing the manifesto, Confor CEO Stuart Goodall said the forestry and wood industry can simultaneously deliver on multiple priorities for the next Scottish Government.

He explained: “Building more and better homes, delivering economic growth and new jobs, and tackling climate change, are three of the biggest political priorities for the next Scottish Government.  These priorities are often viewed as trade-offs, but Scotland's forestry and timber industry can deliver all three at the same time.”

Stuart quoted Sir David Attenborough, who said in his Our Planet series that we need to create new forests to produce more wood.

“Planting more forests with the right trees to increase the supply of Scottish timber will lock up carbon and unlock investment in tree planting, timber processing and manufacturing, stimulating economic growth across Scotland," he stated.

Latest official statistics show that Scotland's forestry and wood industry supports 34,000 jobs and delivers £1.1 billion in annual economic benefit.

“By building on this success, we can help tackle immediate crises in housing, climate and the cost of living, providing jobs and growth in rural areas.”

However, he says urgent action is needed to build confidence in the industry to deliver the tree planting and wood use needed to hit these targets. New planting rates fell back to 8,500 hectares in in 2024-25 after a spike up to 15,000 hectares in 2023-24, and Confor urges the next Government to get planting rates back on track, with a target of 18,000 hectares per annum by the end of the decade (as re-stated in the recent Scottish Government Climate Change plan, 2026-2040).

The manifesto calls on the next Government to work with industry on a new homegrown timber industrial strategy to get tree planting targets back on track, promote great use of Scottish timber and attract new skilled people into the industry.

The UK Government and devolved Welsh Government have both adopted timber industrial strategies, and doing this in Scotland too would lay down a clear blueprint for growing, harvesting and using more Scottish timber over the coming decades. The manifesto argues that this would unlock investment and inspire new and emerging products and technologies

The manifesto also calls for 60% of all new woodland to be productive forest, containing fast-growing conifers to provide the timber needed to build new homes, and have a greater, faster impact on climate change targets, as conifers soak up carbon dioxide more quickly from the atmosphere.

On housing, the manifesto notes that Scotland is already building more than 90% of new homes using timber frames, but much of this timber is imported. The manifesto says the new Scottish Government should work with industry to set specific targets for the percentage of home-grown timber used in construction. The Scottish Government is also urged to specify that timber should be used as a material of first choice in new public buildings.

Stuart concluded: “Our forestry and wood industry is a modern-day success story. By building on that success, we really can deliver on a range of economic and environmental priorities at the same time. We urge all parties contesting the 2026 election to talk to us about this manifesto and adopt its recommendations.”