© 1969 by Institute of Chartered Foresters
The Economic Problems of Private Forestry—19681
The Economic Forestry Group
The economic problems of private forestry are intimately bound up with those of the State and the supporting industries.
With the aim of becoming 25 per cent self-supporting, and to create a U.K. industry with overall efficiency, competitive by world standards, a national forest is proposed of 7 million acres with a minimum annual planting programme of 120,000 acres. This could be achieved 60 per cent by the State and 40 per cent by private interests.
Eight full-scale fully integrated sawmills, pulp, paper, and particle board mills will be required for each 1 million acres of coniferous forests. The industries should be situated locally to the forests, to draw timber supplies from a radius of not more than 30 miles, and with the provision of adequate internal and external roads.
To maintain confidence in a long-term industry there is the need for continued Government support. If the private sector is to play its part there must be no change in the grant aid system and the helpful tax structure.
For efficiency in the forest there must be careful investment planning and choice of site, improved management, silviculture, harvesting and marketing techniques, increased specialization of men and machines, and a proper integration of forestry, agriculture, sporting, fishing, and public amenity.