SEBG members are committed to representing the interests of land-based businesses and rural communities.

---

• Overview
• Code of Practice

SEBG is active across a wide range of issues relevant to rural Scotland.

---

• Sustainable Rural Development
  • - Enterprise
  • - Agriculture
  • - Renewable Energy
• Environment
  • - Natural Heritage
  • - Access
  • - Leisure & Tourism
  • - Enjoy Estates Initiative
• Communities
  • - Housing
  • - Community Facilities
  • - Education
• Built Heritage

• Affordable Housing
• Atholl Glens Organic Beef and Lamb
• Community Involvement - Langholm Initiative
• Deer Management
• Enjoy Estates
• Langholm Moor Demonstration Project
• Letting of Land to New Entrants - A Roxburghe Estate View
• Climate Change - The Role of Estates
• Creating Opportunities for New Entrants
• Focus on Forestry and Timber
• Role of Fishing in Scotland's Rural Economy
• Rural Renewable Energy Conference & Exhibition

Articles, news releases and publications relevant to SEBG.

---

• SEBG News
• SEBG News Archive
• SEBG Publications
• SEBG Publications Archive

If you would like to know more about the Scottish Estates Business Group there are several ways you can contact us.

---

• Scotland Map Showing Regional SEBG Contacts

Event: A Focus on Forestry and Timber

Edinburgh, Thursday 27th September 2007

Scottish landowners and the Government must continue to work together to "seize the opportunities" that the country's forests and woodlands can play in tackling climate change.

Leading figures from the Scottish forestry industry gathered in Edinburgh today (27 September ) to debate the future prospects for the industry. The conference, 'A Focus on Forestry and Timber' was organised by the Scottish Estates Business Group (SEBG). The keynote speech was delivered by Scotland's Environment Minister, Michael Russell.

He told the conference: "Climate change is an unprecedented global challenge and forestry has an important role to play.

"Planting more trees, as well as managing those that we already have, is one of many ways the industry can help lock up carbon. Our aspiration is to plant 9,000 hectares of trees each year which will increase forestry's contribution to climate change.

"New woodlands can also play a wider role in the fight against climate change through sustainable flood management, providing habitats for endangered species and maintaining sustainable domestic timber production. To keep the momentum going, we recently announced a further £3 million for a new scheme which will create new woodlands aimed specifically at reducing the impacts of climate change."

David Gwyther, Deputy Chairman of SEBG, which represents progressive rural estates in Scotland, said the forestry industry is now at a crossroads. He said: "The value of woodlands and forests for their biodiversity, their landscape and recreational values, not to mention their value to sporting tourism are grossly ignored and undervalued.

"Estates make a major contribution to our forestry industry and we must seize the opportunities that lie ahead. As well as traditional customers we now operate in a time of rapidly advancing technologies and where forests and timber are increasingly seen as a renewable resource, capable of making a very serious contribution towards the effect of climate change.

"If we are to get the best possible return from our woodlands we need to grow and manage woodlands and trees that will better match the needs and aspirations of all our customers. "

Speakers at today's conference included:-

Stuart Goodall, ConFor

Stuart Goodall is the Chief Executive of the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor), which represents members across the forest industry supply chain throughout the UK. Its aim is to provide the industry with a strong voice at all levels of Government and to promote the market for wood, forest products and forest services.

John Kissock OBE, Timber Processing Consultant

John Kissock is a leading timbers processing consultant and former Managing Director of James Jones and Sons Ltd. He is a Member of the Grampian Forest Forum and Scottish Forestry Forum; a Member of Forestry Commission Scotland Regional Advisory Committee; Chairman of UK Timber Grading Committee; a Trustee of the Scottish Forestry Trust; a Director of the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor) and Director of Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley, of which he was appointed Chairman in January 2007.

Dr John Moore, Centre for Timber Engineering, Napier University

Dr Moore joined Napier University's Centre for Timber Engineering in January 2006. Prior to that he worked at the New Zealand Forest Research Institute, where he was involved in a number of projects investigating the effects of site, silviculture and genetics on the wood properties of radiata pine.

The woodland creation scheme

The £3 million woodland creation scheme is a one off funding measure for the 2007/08 planting season aimed specifically to help tackle climate change. Proposals which demonstrate the greatest contribution to climate change action through carbon sequestration, wood fuel supply and in the creation of forest habitat networks are most likely to succeed. The scheme will assist with the creation of around 2,000 hectares of woodland to help tackle the impacts of climate change. Details of how to apply are at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/woodlandcreationscheme