Forestry and wood processing at the crossroads

Hear from professionals and politicians - including Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon - about the future of forestry and wood in Scotland. The sector is a success story, employing 34,000 people, adding £1.1 billion annually to the economy - and makes a significant contribution to Scotland's 2045 net zero target.

Success and growth have been built on increasing availability of wood - but supply is forecast to fall in coming decades. Many in the sector are concerned by cumbersome, inconsistently-applied rules around grant applications and criteria for new woodland creation. Inheritance tax changes announced by the UK Government will affect many rural landowners, and forestry is not immune – but there might be opportunities for the sector too.

Falling confidence could see investment leak from Scotland to the rest of the UK and beyond. Can forestry and wood rise to these challenges and deliver continued economic and environmental benefits? To do so, it needs clear policy and settled funding from Governments in Scotland and London.

Hear from forestry professionals with expertise in investment, tree planting, wood processing and community consultation - and from Scotland's main political parties about the way forward, to ensure the turn taken from the crossroads is a positive one.