The results of economic research feed into policy across England, Scotland and Wales as well as internationally. Recent economic research is shown below:
The Economic Contribution of the Public Forest (For PDF report see under Economic Research)
January 2010
This research analyses the social, economic, and environmental contribution of the Public Forest Estate in England and examines ways of increasing this contribution.
Business Health in the Forestry and Wood Industries (PDF document)
February 2009
This report presents the results from the 2007 survey of business health in the forestry and wood industries. The survey was first carried out in 2000 and again in 2004 and it is planned to continue to run it every 3 to 4 years.
Scoping Study to Review Forestry Policy Instruments in the UK (PDF Document)
October 2008
This report was submitted by Pareto Consulting. It gives a brief review of the use of taxation in forestry policy focusing on how its relevance to environmental objectives might be improved. It also offers an overview of payments for ecosystem services and suggests an approach to assessing the current mix of forestry policy instruments in terms of their individual and collective effectiveness.
IPD UK Forestry Index 2005 (PDF Document)
IPD UK Forestry Index 2006 (PDF Document)
IPD UK Forestry Index 2007 (PDF Document)
2005 - 2007
The IPD UK Forestry Index is produced annually and measures the return to commercial forest plantations. It is derived from a series of annual valuations and cash flows for a sample of approximately 160 plantations across mainland Britain.
Evaluation of the South West Forest and Future Forests
2006
An evaluation of the South West Forest and Forest Futures programmes which assesses the economic and rural development effects of these programmes on the local economies.
Valuing Forest Recreation Activities: Phase 1 Report ; Final Phase 2 Report ;
Technical Annex ; Summary
2006
This study was undertaken for the Forestry Commission by a team of environmental economists and social researchers, lead by Dr Mike Christie at Aberystwyth University. The study looks specifically at recreational users of forests, with the first stage focusing on the local economic impacts of visitors. It also aimed to analyse the value that different groups of users attach to their visits, be it for cycling, horse riding, nature watching or a general visit. Further analysis was undertaken to see what preferences these groups had for services at forest sites.
Woodland and Forest Sector in England
July 2006
A mapping study carried out on behalf of the England Forest Industries Partnership by Jaakko Poyry Consulting.
Economic Benefits of Accessible Green Spaces for Physical and Mental Health: Scoping Study (PDF Document)
October 2005
The scoping study investigates the economic benefits, in terms of physical and mental health, of changes in the provision of accessible greenspace. The study reviews existing research evidence and methodologies, and sets out proposals for subsequent research.
Business Health in the Forestry and Wood Industries (PDF Document)
February 2005
This report presents results from the 2004 survey of business health in the forestry and wood industries. In 2000, a previous survey was conducted with the aim of obtaining benchmark information on the health and financial viability of forest industry businesses. Following that survey, it was agreed that a shorter follow-up survey should be conducted every 3 - 4 years.
Social and Environmental Benefits of Forestry - Factsheet (PDF Document)
November 2004
This is one of several factsheets published by the Forestry Commission on various aspects of sustainable forest management.
Dendroctonus Micans (Great Spruce Bark Beetle): Economic Appraisal of Control Options (PDF Document)
June 2004
This report presents a cost effectiveness analysis of options to control the effects of the Great Spruce Bark Beetle, or Dendroctonus micans, on spruce forests in Great Britain.
The Economic Impact of British Forestry (PDF Document)
January 2004
This study presents estimates of the economic impacts of forestry in the UK. The first part offers an economic view of the industry in a policy context, and covers the main conclusions from the analysis. The second part sets out the detailed methodology behind the measurements, with scenarios presented in part 3. The report was carried out on behalf of the Forestry Commission by PACEC and Cogentsi, and completed in January 2004.
Economic Analysis of Forestry Policy in England (Info DEFRA Website)
April 2003
This study analyses the economic rationale for government intervention in forestry and assesses the costs and benefits from such intervention in England, in order to assess the appropriate roles of the public and private sectors and any changes that may be required in strategic delivery mechanisms. It was carried out by CJC Consulting for DEFRA and HM Treasury and completed in April 2003. The publication includes copies of 13 papers provided as an evidence base for the study.
Estimating Arrival Numbers and Values for Informal Recreational Use of British Woodlands (PDF Document)
February 2003
This report encompasses two interlinked research projects. The first of these investigates the potential for generating transferable models for predicting visitor arrival numbers at woodland recreation sites across Great Britain. The second project sets out to estimate transferable monetary assessments of the value of such woodland visits through a meta-analysis of previous valuation studies.
Social and Environmental Benefits of Forest
2003
The description "social and environmental benefits" refers to aspects of forests that do not produce a financial return, but are perceived by the public as being benefits. A major study was completed in 2003, with the aim of estimating a combined value for all the non-market benefits of forests, instead of estimating separate values for each aspect as in previous research. The research started by looking at values for separate aspects, each of which is documented in a report. The findings are drawn together in the final report, for which the individual reports are appendices.
Forests' Role in Tourism: Phase 1 Report ; Main Report ; Summary Report
October 2003
This study assesses the economic contribution of forestry to tourism in Scotland, England and Wales. Phase 1 reports the results of a scoping study in 1999/2000 to look at existing data, research and methodology. Phase II (summary report and main report) reports the results of the main study.
Monitoring the Health & Financial Viability of Forest Industry Businesses (PDF Document)
August 2000
As part of its support for sustainable forest management, the Forestry Commission commissioned Firn Crichton Roberts Ltd and John Clegg & Co to undertake a survey of FIBs which could both generate benchmark information on these private businesses, and also identify potential innovations in business development support for the forest industries in Britain. The objectives of the research included establishing business health and viability indicators for FIBs; generating a representative survey sample for the constituent forest industry segments; identifying the main economic and policy factors that influence business performance and prospects in FIBs; assessing the business impact of the introduction of Certification and UKWAS; and making recommendations on future business support and survey requirements for the industry.
English Forestry Contribution to Rural Economies (PDF Document)
January 2000
A study investigating the linkages between all aspects of economic activity reliant on forestry production and processing in England. The output of this investigation is the quantification of forestry's contribution in terms of net output, gross output and employment to both the national and rural economies. Recreational activities have been excluded from this assessment and will be the object of another study.
Welsh Forestry Multiplier Study (PDF Document)
November 1999
The purpose of this study was to improve the understanding of the role of the forestry industry in the Welsh economy. The forestry industry was defined to include the activities of private forestry owners, Forest Enterprise, forest management companies, timber harvesting, extracting, haulage and marketing companies, and primary processors including sawmills, wood-based panel manufacturers and paper mills. The research was informed by an extensive questionnaire and interview survey of forestry industry organisations. The financial information generated by the survey was incorporated into an input-output model of the Welsh economy to allow the indirect or 'multiplier' impacts of sector changes to be estimated.
Scottish Forestry; An Input-Output Analysis (PDF Document)
May 1999
A study to quantify the magnitude of the forestry sector's contribution to the Scottish economy. By confining the analysis purely to the links arising from production and processing and ignoring the other benefits provided by Scottish woodlands (such as recreation, biodiversity, tourism and enhanced landscapes), the study is limited in scope. However, it focuses on an important component of the sector's overall contribution to the Scottish economy, and one which is essential to a more comprehensive assessment of the value of Scottish forestry.
