Timber Sales & Marketing Plan 2022 – 2026

Overview

Natural Resources Wales was created on 1 April 2013 to ensure that the natural resources and environment of Wales are sustainably managed, enhanced and used in a way that is good for people, good for the environment and good for the economy, jobs and enterprise.

We have a broad remit and the management of the Welsh Government Woodland Estate (WGWE) is one of our key responsibilities. The WGWE is managed in accordance with the principle of sustainable forest management. At the heart of this approach is the importance of balancing the environmental, social and economic benefits of forests and the recognition that our forests serve a wide range of objectives. This consultation is concerned with the marketing of timber from the WGWE. 

In 2016 we revised the former Forestry Commission Wales Timber Marketing Plan to align with the principles of Natural Resources Wales. Since this time the market place and expectations of both the forest sector and new legislation has changed, and we consider it appropriate to review the current plan to align it with the current forest resource plans reviews and felling period of 2022-2026.

We will call this new document our Timber Sales and Marketing Plan.

More significantly, circumstances have changed with the advent of Phytophthora ramorum disease of larch. The WGWE harvesting programme over the last few years has been largely shaped by responding to the Welsh Government’s (WG) Disease Management Strategy, meeting compliance with Statutory Plant Health Notices, and our strategic approach to reducing larch on the estate. Consequently, we have and continue to harvest and market larger proportions of larch wood than anticipated. Our customers were notified in December 2012 of the changing flows of larch and other species both at a Wales level and at a local level. 

We are committed to working with our stakeholders to deliver the best outcomes for Wales, and this consultation process is an important element of our overall approach. We know that there is always room for improvement, and we have listened to the feedback you have given us since we were established in 2013.

Our priorities are;

• improved quality of communication with the forest sector;
• improved transparency of forests facts and figures for timber production, forecasting and supply;
• improved management of timber production and supply from WGWE and the Welsh Forest Resource; and,
• finding new ways of working to contribute to a vibrant and efficient forest sector in Wales.

If you would like to complete this consultation through a different format such as a hard copy, please call, 07733 001515.

Why your views matter

The aim of this consultation is to inform the development of our Timber Sales & Marketing Plan for the period of 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2026.

We will produce this plan to help maintain our certification to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) and to ensure that we deliver against the relevant policy objectives set out in the Welsh Government’s 50-year strategy for trees and woodlands in Wales “Woodlands for Wales”.

The introduction of the Environment Act, and Well-being of Future Generations Act have included the provision of area statements and public service boards. These documents and service boards will over time influence the direction of those forests within a specific area of Wales. Our future timber sales activities and timber supply may be adapted to support such Area ambitions.

The exit of the UK from the European Union may impact on our future trading position and opportunities and this marketing plan will need to adapt to such changes as necessary.