Opportunities for the Private Forestry Sector. Niel Nicholson

Transcription

1 Opportunities for the Private Forestry Sector Niel Nicholson

2 What am I going to talk about Who am I The Forestry Sector where we were The Forestry Sector where we would like to be Why the change How to get there The Challenge The Opportunity

3 Forestry Commission Sales (Clegg) Wildlife Trusts County Councils CLA Sawmills ConFor Trust Agents AONBs NFU Small Wood Association Royal Forestry Society Private Owners Forest Research Private Sector The Forestry Sector - Where we were Contractors Public Ownership The Public Institute of Chartered Foresters Natural England Low Carbon Hub Sylva RSPB Timber Merchants Grown in Britain Projects

4 The Forestry Sector where we would like to be Public Forestry Commission Natural England trust CLA RSPB NFU Wildlife Trusts AONB Councils Confor ICF RFS Earth Trust LCH Agents Owners Private sector Forest Research + Sylva Contractors Timber Markets

5 Why the change The FC Realisation the sector is disparate or is it desperate Recent data Markets Grant changes, LEP and European funding Joined up thinking, Collaboration and Partnerships

6 How to get there

7 The Challenge or first bite The Oxfordshire Forestry Accord Can we all work together If so how

8 Creating a shared vision for forestry organisations and stakeholders in Oxfordshire Output 1 Establish up-to-date theoretically available resource information for Oxfordshire s woodlands Output 2 Ground truth and adjusted data with input from Government, NGO & private sector stakeholders. Theoretical up-todate information on % of undermanaged woodlands (GIS output per District Council) Forestry stakeholder adjustment to theoretical data based on local knowledge OxLEP SEEIP Proposals July 2015 Forestry Commission South East to supply latest information on the state of woodland management in Oxfordshire based on Grants and Licencing activity Ask if the National Forest Inventory data for Oxfordshire is available and if there is a data available on: species composition / age classes / timber quality Workshop coordinated (Sept / Oct) with private sector and woodland initiatives to assess the theoretical data and identifying what is needed to mobilise and add value to the resource within the Oxfordshire economy Results from Oxfordshire survey of woodlands owners carried out in July 2015 Current wood-flow within and leaving the county: set out broad timber quality classes Units: M 3 & values Estimates of % of annual increment being harvested from major woodlands in Oxon Units: M 3 & values Identify additional woodflow opportunities from undermanaged woodlands Units: M 3 & values Carry out a gap analysis of forestry / wood chain in Oxfordshire: consider woodland resource, contracting capacity, market pull within Oxon Employment opportunities Unit: jobs available in county Other metrics for business case e.g. Natural Capital / Ecosystem services valuations ( ), tourism value ( ) etc. Units: ES metrics & est. values Output 3 A strategy and action plan for growth and development of the forestry sector in Oxfordshire Vision for Oxfordshire woodlands based on contemporary data with input from private sector, local government and NGOs. Partners to be listed: OxLEP, FC SE, AONBs, TOE2, Low Carbon Hub, Earth Trust, Sylva Foundation, private sector, Oxfordshire County Council, Wild Oxfordshire, BBOWT e. g

9 Output 4 Strategy into action and demonstrating economic benefit of investment (whilst optimising opportunities for biodiversity and ecosystem services) Category Lead Organisations Example Action (1) Example Action (2) Example Action (3) Investment required Anticipated value to Oxon economy Return on Investment Social & environmental return Mitigation Biomass Energy Adding Value Training Engagement Research and Management creation Innovation FC SE, AONBs, BBOWT, Sylva, Earth Trust & private sector management plan support for owners Delivery of workshops Provision of myforest Oxfordshire FC SE, Earth Trust, TOE2, OCC, Trust River Ock catchment work (flood mitigation) River of life wet woodland FC SE, TOE2, Low Carbon Hub, AONBs, private sector Community funding for biomass installations OxLogs Advice for biomass Installations (right boiler, right place) Sylva & private sector, FC SE, OCC, Earth Trust Sylva Wood Centre and business support (Forestry Advisory Consortium) Diversification opportunities from tourism and recreation Earth Lab - a central learning hub for public and professional alike Earth Trust, TOE2 Apprenticeships and traineeships Opportunities for NEETS e.g. expansion of open college network course availability action Skills for tomorrow programme development (ET) to include CPD training + volunteer training AONBs, Sylva, Forest Schools Association, Oxfordshire Forest Schools Service, Earth Trust, OUDCE, OCC, Low Carbon Hub Forest Schools Support for community woodland initiatives, e.g. Woodshare Health benefits of access to woodland % % % % % % % Improved habitats and access to woodlands Oxfordshire s carbon balance sequestration - Roll out of a renewable energy source - Jobs - Upskilling workforce - Develop a wood culture - Health benefits Wild Oxfordshire, AONBs, Sylva, TOE 2, Earth Trust, University of Oxford, Future Trees Trust Green Infrastructure Implementation Research Workshop (winter 2015) to assess knowledge gaps and new potential collaborative funding opportunities Delivery of the Future with Broadleaved trees strategy - Improved habitats and landscapes

10 The Challenge beyond the first bite Oxfordshire The South East England

11 The Opportunity where we would like to be Public Forestry Commission Natural England trust CLA RSPB NFU Wildlife Trusts AONB Councils Confor ICF RFS Earth Trust LCH Agents Owners Private sector Forest Research + Sylva Contractors Timber Markets

12 The Opportunity for the Private Forestry Sector Collaboration and Cooperation A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise

13 The Opportunity for the Private Forestry Sector Collaboration and Cooperation - The advantages FC and the data available myforest Partnership working Trust and FC Combination of lots of individuals and small groups Plenty of work to go round High average age Easier to take on extra staff Sharing of resources mapping, skills, deer management etc Better logistics and efficiency contractors, haulage, markets better prices reduced mileage and CO 2 continuity of work Increased woodland management

14 Conclusion This is My Vision for the Opportunity for the Forestry (particularly the Private) Sector It needs trust and collaboration All parts to play to their individual strengths But the final result should be greater than the sum of the individual parts