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Scots pine timber quality in North Scotland: market requirements and resource availability

Summary

Photo
Scots pine forest

Scots pine is the only timber-producing conifer that is native to Scotland . As such it plays a key role in delivering a wide range of benefits to the rural economy, including sustainable timber, landscape enhancement, wildlife habitats, opportunities for recreation and community involvement. Almost 80% of the total area of Scots pine high forest in Scotland lies in the Highland and Grampian conservancy areas. Timber production from these forests is forecast to continue increasing over the next 15 years.
 
A number of recent initiatives and projects have considered the utilisation of Scots pine timber and its contribution to sustainable rural development. These include publications by Worrell and Ross (2004) and Davies et al. (2001), the work of the Forest of Spey and Deeside Forest management groups, timber evaluation and grading by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and a major conference in October 2004 on “Scots Pine and Rural Development”, organised by Forestry Commission Scotland and the Forest of Spey partnership.

This project, which is part of the silviculture and timber properties research programme, seeks to address industry requirements as identified in previous work and to link to ongoing initiatives (e.g. BRE projects on machine grade settings for Scots pine and re-engineering). The current utilisation of Scots pine and available markets will be analysed. Tools will be developed to consistently assess Scots pine timber quality and facilitate the targeting of material to the most appropriate end-use. Information about the quantity and quality of the Scots pine resource, that will inform the wood-processing industry’s investment decisions, will be provided.

Detailed objectives

  • To provide information to the forestry and wood-using industries about the quantity and quality of the Scots pine resource with reference to current and potential end-uses and markets
  • To increase the value to the rural economy of the Scots pine resource by evaluating the potential for utilisation in higher value end-products and identifying opportunities for adding value locally.

Outputs

Forestry Commission policy

Timber is one of the key themes of the Scottish Forestry Strategy. By developing methods for assessing Scots pine timber quality and undertaking strategic surveys, this project contributes to several of the requirements identified to promote predictable and stable timber supplies, namely:

  • To institute a production forecasting initiative to explore how best to sustain consistent long-term timber supplies, and to clarify likely levels of production and wood quality
  • To promote development of the quality and diversity of the timber resource by the full range of existing and potential markets
  • To encourage the production of high quality timber.

In addition the market development study undertaken in the project supports the aim of encouraging greater use of timber.

Project funders and partners 

The project is being led and delivered by Forest Research, reporting to the funding partners. A small project steering group has been established to oversee and guide the project, ensuring it remains relevant to industry needs and that the results are effectively communicated

Funders:

Partners:

Status

The project started in January 2006 and will continue until December 2009.

Contact

For further information contact:

Elspeth Macdonald
Centre for Forest Resources and Management
Forest Research
Forestry Commission
Woodlands
Fodderty Way
Dingwall, Ross-shire
IV15 9XB

Tel: +44 (0)1349 862144
Fax: +44 (0)1349 866624
Email: elspeth.macdonald@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Project people