Dr Anna Brown, Director of Forest Services at the Forestry Commission, explores the ways that timber shapes our daily lives. This blog celebrates craftsmanship, sustainability and innovation behind one of nature’s most remarkable resources.
Timber is all around us, in ways both familiar and unexpected – from the homes we live, work and play in, to the furniture we use and the books we read. Wood fuels our fires, supports the smooth movement of goods in the form of pallets and even plays a role in medicine. If you look around, you’re guaranteed to find something made from wood.
Timber is a renewable resource and is key to sustainable living. Trees capture carbon as they grow, and this carbon continues to be stored in wood products throughout their lifespan. As a country, the importance of producing timber needs to be more prominent in our conversations, recognising that investing in timber is an investment in growth and our planet.
We need timber
It is estimated that global demand for wood products will treble by 2050, while supply is set to drop in the next 20-30 years, increasing pressure on supply chains of this limited yet renewable resource. The UK imports 73% of its timber, making it the second largest net importer with only China importing more, and this is a situation we must work to improve. Food security is important, but so is timber security!
Wood can also act as a substitute for more carbon-intensive materials such as concrete and steel, making timber equally vital for decarbonising the construction industry, which contributes 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As the government looks to increase the country's housing stock, it is essential that trees and timber are built into the design from the get-go.
We have a vibrant and robust UK industry with developed markets that are well placed to take advantage of home-grown timber. By planting and managing woodland for timber production, we reduce our dependency on imported wood, cut our carbon footprint, reduce the growing pressure on forests worldwide, all whilst supporting the growth agenda and improving the environment for both nature and people.
Increasing tree cover for a sustainable future
We are working towards achieving our Environment Act targets, including halting nature’s decline by 2030 and reaching at least 16.5% tree canopy cover in England by 2050. We have seen real progress in the last few years, but there is more work to do and the cost of not planting trees is significant.
We need to create a more resilient, nature-rich and productive landscape that is framed by a diverse range of forests and woodlands. This must include fast growing conifers and other species that capture carbon quickly and then store it for the long term.
Not only this but increasing tree cover will help to improve our timber security.
Fostering resilience
The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) is the technical standard for sustainable forest management across the UK and applies to all woodland, regardless of who owns or manages it.
Certifications such as Forest Stewardship Council, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, and Grown in Britain further support this by verifying that wood products have been harvested responsibly.
Recent UKFS updates state that no more than 65% of a woodland should be made up of a single species of tree. This encourages mixed-species woodlands which provide greater resilience to pests, disease and climate change than the monoculture plantations of the past.
These diverse woodlands create mosaic habitats that support more biodiversity, offering us greater flexibility in land use by accommodating both timber production and conservation goals. Mosaic habitats are areas where different habitats can be found close together, creating a patchwork of habitats that benefits biodiversity.
By focusing on sustainable management practices and climate-resilient species, we can ensure our woodlands remain productive while enhancing ecological and economic benefits.
Fostering innovation
The timber industry today combines traditional practices with modern innovations to tackle contemporary challenges and create new opportunities.
'Buying local' is becoming increasingly important to customers resulting in an exciting shift towards the creation of markets that prioritise and promote the use of locally sourced timber. This fosters a sustainable cycle that supports rural economies and reduces the environmental footprint of transporting materials.
Another recognisable shift is seeing architects and builders move towards supply-led design which encourages designing structures around the unique qualities of UK grown tree species, extracting what is available in a sustainable way.
We can see this with Vastern Timber who are creating high-value products from low-value, readily available wood and Woodland Trust who are reinvigorating local supply chains from timber harvested during ancient woodland restoration. These projects demonstrate how this sustainable approach maximises the utility of local wood, reduces waste while also celebrating its natural characteristics.
Funding opportunities like the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Fund have further driven innovation in the industry and supported projects to develop and implement groundbreaking ideas, particularly in sustainable construction practices.
Economic opportunities
Timber production offers valuable opportunities to secure long-term sustainability and income for landowners. It can generate reliable revenue streams that helps to support other land use objectives such as the environmental benefits of planting trees.
By producing timber, we can strengthen the UK’s timber industry, which plays a crucial role in supporting stable employment across various sectors, including construction, furniture making, timber processing and pulp and paper industries. This, in turn, helps to support rural economies by fostering economic growth that creates skilled job opportunities to support local communities.
Timber is an environmental necessity
Harvesting trees for timber is not just an economic opportunity – it is an environmental necessity. With global demand for timber products predicted to soar, the UK has a vital role to play in addressing these challenges. Public perception is often that felling trees is a bad thing – we need to help reverse this and better promote all the benefits that sustainable harvested wood provides.
Sustainable timber production not only supports biodiversity goals, it also offers the chance to diversify your business, increase economic growth, provide timber security, all while contributing to the global effort to tackle climate change.
Timber is more than a resource – it is the exemplar of a circular economy and a renewable solution for a sustainable future.
Start your timber journey and explore more resources and free expert advice on our Trees to Timber GOV.UK page.
Leave a comment