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C ON F OR ( Confederation of Forest Industries). Malcolm Nicol, Managing Partner of Ballogie Estate Enterprises. UK organisation includes processors nurseries management companies as well as Primary Producers Head Office in Edinburgh. Base Facts.
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CONFOR( Confederation of Forest Industries) Malcolm Nicol, Managing Partner of Ballogie Estate Enterprises. UK organisation includes processors nurseries management companies as well as Primary Producers Head Office in Edinburgh
Base Facts • 40% Forestry in Scotland is in Public Ownership (FCS) • 60% of UK Timber requirements are imported • 40% Home production is not currently sustainable • Economic downturn • £ : E
DWP Harvesting and marketing Cooperative “Owned by growers – run by growers – works for growers” 25 years operation 40 Members. 12,000ha. UK largest independent timber marketing Group No employees/No machinery/No Office Deliver product to market
What is government policy ? Trees for energyTrees for carbon captureSecuring timber suppliesLandscape management
What to plant ? • Market in 60 years ? • LISS (low impact silvicultural systems) or more intensive? • Disease and pests • Variable Government aims • Climate Change
BIOMASS • Haulage • Aboyne Academy and Community Centre • Hill of Banchory District Heating Scheme • Sensitive Lorry Miles • Lockerbie (ROCs) • Electricity generation 30 % efficiency • Retro fit to James Jones’s sawmill • Norboard at Dalcross
Carbon • Potential and problem • Do we understand the science of carbon systems ? • CC Only as yet applies to new woodland • Link between Forestry and farming • Peatlands • Local rather than global links • NES carbon trading ? SAOS ?
PROPOSALS Look closely at NES renewable energy options and how biomass fits best Encourage funding of local biomass projects Actively campaign against the waste of biomass for electricity NESAAG meet on forestry industry No to Forest Roads requiring formal planning approval. Should Grant system do more to encourage more intensive silviculture on existing forest area What impact is energy cropping going to have on lowground land use ?
Photograph 9Integration of other estate activities is important. Photo: Victor Clements 2002