Consultation on The Future of Forestry in Scotland

1. Consultation on The Future of Forestry in Scotland Stuart Goodall 26 October 2016

2. Background • Across GB, the FC has been breaking apart for years; • The GB element is now collapsing – needs political agreement to fully separate out; • Consultation sets out Scottish Government’s proposals for FC in Scotland; • Title of consultation implies all of sector, but just FC.

3. Overall perspective • Confor recognises need to act and establish a fully devolved arrangement that can work with a successful Scottish forestry + timber sector. • Confor supports establishing a well-resourced, professional and effective forest service and a management agency for the national forest that can work with the private sector to deliver further economic, environmental and social benefits for Scotland.

4. Three elements to proposal • New organisational arrangements to make forestry fully accountable to ministers and Parliament; • To provide for effective cross-border co-operation in areas such as research, plant health and UKFS; • To put in place new legislation for forestry for the 21st Century.

5. Organisation – Forest Service • FC Scotland is part of the SG’s Environment and Forestry Directorate (EFD), but is not subject to SG policies and practices; • Proposal aims for full accountability to ministers and Parliament by removing role of Commissioners and formalising the current arrangement with FC Scotland becoming a dedicated Forestry Division within EFD.

6. Present Arrangement Proposed Arrangement Parliament/ Ministers Parliament/ Ministers Environment + Forestry Dept Environment + Forestry Dept Forestry Commissioners Forestry Division Forestry and Land Scotland Forestry Commission Scotland

7. Organisation – Forest Service • Confor has supported retaining a well-resourced and professional service with a clear role and remit to support the forestry sector; • However, by being a division it can better influence wider SG policy and be more clearly accountable to deliver SG commitments, especially on planting and restocking.

8. Operation of Forest Service • Confor wants recognised professional forestry staff supporting and regulating the sector in accordance with UKFS; • Provide for an interchange of forestry division staff both with the agency and wider SG; • A similar, if not more influential, group to the current Customer Representative Group to provide external input.

9. Organisation – Forest Estate • FE Scotland is to become an agency, but with wider remit – “Forestry and Land Scotland”; • Provide flexibility to use NFE land for a variety of purposes, not just forestry; • No plans to retain non-executive oversight.

10. Organisation – Forest Estate • Confor will seek a clear guarantee that future wood supply from the NFE will be guaranteed at least at current levels; • Confor is open-minded to discussion about how NFE can play a wider role, but vital no action is taken that undermines productive capacity; •  Confor believes management agency would benefit from non-executive oversight.

11. Cross-border arrangements • Proposal picks up much of Confor’s previous work in this area; • Confor has challenged SG to take a lead in key areas, incl standards and international policy, and for industry to have a role in research; • SG proposal highlights 3 areas: • Forestry science and research; • Tree health; • Common codes: UKFS + Woodland Carbon Code.

12. Cross-border arrangements • Confor supports cross border co-operation and also proposes continued co-operation on inventory, economics and statistics; • Confor would suggest SG seeks to take a UK lead on international policy, UKFS, inventory, economics and statistics; • Confor propose Forest Research’s status be changed, eg company limited by guarantee and sector, through Confor, having a share.

13. Legislation and regulation • Legislation required to provide for new Scotland-based arrangements; • SG proposes to repeal 1967 Act and put in place a dedicated framework of regulation; • Could include general duty to promote forestry – Confor supports including duty for SFM; • Also duty for felling in accordance with good practice and restocking following felling – Confor support presumption against deforestation and seek to protect natural capital.

14. What next? • Confor presenting draft response to members and wider industry at regional meetings; • Sharing it with partners in sector and beyond; • Meeting with key MSPs and officials; • Will prepare final response and share it with members. Vital that members reply themselves reiterating the same key points!

15. THANK YOU! www.confor.org.uk