Written evidence submitted by Andrew Heald (TPW0073)

I am a professional member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters and have worked in forest management in the UK and internationally for circa 25 years.

The EFRA committee should consider the following papers and reports:

  1. The recommendations in the 2017 EFRA report - Forestry in England: Seeing the wood for the trees  https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmenvfru/619/619.pdf
  2. The Committee on Climate Changes report  – Biomass in a Low Carbon Economy -  https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/biomass-in-a-low-carbon-economy/
  3. Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor) submission to this inquiry – published online - https://www.confor.org.uk/media/246313/efra-inquiry-into-forestry-confor-response.pdf

 

The EFRA Committee should ponder:

  1. If we are to decarbonise construction and other industries, we will need to use more timber and other forest products - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/20450249.2019.1697096?journalCode=tcri20

 

  1. Global demand for forest products will more than double by 2050 - https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/wwf-s-living-forest-report-chapter-4-forests-and-wood-products
  2. UK is already the world’s 2nd largest net importer of forest products https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/forestry-statistics/forestry-statistics-2020/3-trade/

 

The EFRA Committee should ask

  1. Why does the background information for this call for evidence not mention timber?
  2. Why is there such a difference between the basic regulation for forestry (UK Forestry Standard) compared with agriculture (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition)?
  3. How many times has Zac Goldsmith (UK Forestry Minister) visited a sawmill since being appointed UK Forestry Minister?

 

6th December 2020