Forestry and wood can lead green recovery

Lord Deben, Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, told the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Forestry and Tree Planting that there was enormous potential for the greater use of timber in construction. To realise this potential, the Government had to move from words to action, he said - by using its procurement power to ensure more home-grown wood was used to construct public buildings, alongside improved testing to demonstrate its suitability in more aspects of construction, including its low fire risk.

WATCH THE WEBINAR HERE

“We need to have many more buildings made of wood - and that justifies the need to grow the industry to deliver that,” he said.

A letter to the Prime Minister from the Committee on Climate Change this month [read here] called for six key actions to drive a resilient recovery from Covid-19. Increased tree planting was included, but Lord Deben said a shift in mindset was needed to fast-track planting rates.

He recognised a positive shift towards higher planting targets in the 2019 election campaign, with the UK Government aiming to deliver 30,000 hectares of new planting every year by 2025 - well over double current figures.

Both Lord Deben and Stuart Goodall, Confor's CEO, said it was crucial to maintain momentum to move from aspiration to action, and highlighted that Government needed to take a lead and incorporate forestry and tree planting more explicitly, in related areas - such as future agriculture support - as well as reverse the previous government’s decision to set aside the aspiration for zero carbon homes.

Stuart Goodall agreed. “We need to think about tree planting as a cycle of activity," he said. “We have an opportunity to create products, from hardwood and softwood species, if we manage woodlands well - and that can then help decarbonise construction. This very much goes with the grain of what the government wants to achieve, but the word ‘urgency hasn’t seemed to be in their vocabulary in the past.”

Mr Goodall said he had urged forestry minister Zac Goldsmith to make a personal commitment to deliver planting targets in England, which he had done. He said the sector was in a generally optimistic state before Covid-19 lockdown, but construction markets had then quickly stalled.

Parts of the industry had continued working because they provided critical products - pallets and packaging for food and pharmaceuticals, biomass to heat homes and some care homes and hospitals, agricultural fencing - and boards to help fit out Nightingale hospitals.

"I think many government officials have woken up to the fact that forestry and wood is an industry and not just a means to deliver biodiversity and leisure benefits," said Mr Goodall. "Confor is in talks now with DEFRA and counterparts around the UK to discuss what a ‘green recovery’ will look like and how forestry and greater use of home-grown wood could play a role. That recovery has to be a safe one, and we have developed, with partners, safe working protocols for all parts of the industry.”