CONFOR WELCOMES WOOD ENERGY STRATEGY

A new strategy launched by the Forestry Commission England to promote the use of wood as a source of energy has been welcomed by woodland owners and wood using businesses.

Supporting the plan, 'A Woodfuel Strategy for England', industry representative body ConFor, said it had three key advantages:

1. Energy derived from wood is carbon neutral and therefore contributes to efforts to tackle climate change

2. It will help stimulate valuable new jobs in rural areas

3. It will help bring many of England's woods into positive management

Stuart Goodall, Executive Director Policy and Research at ConFor, said:

"Much of England's woodland is under managed which is both a significant missed climate change opportunity and a major contributor to the decline of woodland species such as nightingales and dormice."

"Wood is a truly sustainable and renewable resource which can play a unique role in the development of a low carbon economy. In many parts of England we have lost the tradition of managing our woods, and as a consequence they have been in decline, local wood-using businesses have disappeared and society has turned to carbon-intensive building materials and energy fuels."

"ConFor has lobbied hard for this strategy and for a focus on local, heat generation. Generating heat using wood provides the greatest benefit in carbon terms, as well as stimulating about ten times as many jobs as some other renewable energies. Wood energy is a relatively cheap source of fuel and therefore can also help tackle rural fuel poverty."

"This is a strategy that can benefit rural communities, promote biodiversity and of course help to tackle climate change. It is vital now that the resources are found to turn the good words in the strategy into action on the ground."