Confor hails 'remarkable' new figures on impact of forestry and wood manufacturing in Scotland -

The economic impact of the forestry and wood sector in Scotland has continued to increase, with new statistics revealing that it is worth £1.1 billion and employs more than 34,000 people.

Confor's Chief Executive said the figures - announced by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes on a visit to West Fraser, a manufacturer of wood- based panels in the Highlands - were a "remarkable" achievement in the face of major challenges, and reflected growing demand for wood as a low-carbon material.

The independent study says more than 34,000 jobs are supported by the forestry and wood sector in Scotland - compared to 25,867 in the last study, published in September 2015. The economic impact of £1.1 billion was up from £954 million in 2015.

Confor CEO Stuart Goodall said: "It’s good news for Scotland that this increasingly important industry has experienced such strong growth. To have increased levels of employment by 30% and annual economic impact by more than 15% is remarkable in the face of unprecedented economic challenges. It is testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the people working in the sector, and the growing demand for wood as a low carbon material."

Mr Goodall praised Confor members - including West Fraser, based at Dalcross, near Inverness and hosts for the visit by Kate Forbes - for its part in securing the strong numbers. “In recent years we have seen hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and businesses expanding and recruiting new staff," he added.