A new report on the Economic Impacts of Forest Based Activities in Scotland has shown that the Scottish forestry sectors now contribute £1.1 billion GVA to Scotland's economy every year. GVA measures the contribution to the economy of each individual producer, industry or sector in the UK.
Findings: the numbers explained
Forestry's economic contribution to Scotland is now £1.1 billion GVA:
- £878 million comes from forestry, timber processing, and supply chain activities
- £252 million comes from forest recreation and tourism
Employment levels are up with more than 34,100 full time employees now working in the sector.
Forestry and timber processing and the supply chain activities:
- contributes £878 million GVA per year to Scotland's economy
- employs 16,010 people (full time) in Scotland
Forest recreation and tourism:
- contributes £252 million GVA to the Scottish economy every year
- employs 18,130 people (full time) in Scotland
The economic contribution of local forestry
Scotland’s forest sectors has expanded since the last report with more than 1,970 local businesses working together to maximise the economic, environmental, ecological, and social benefits of forest-based activities. The sector is a mix of businesses ranging from large multinationals to micro enterprises which makes estimating its contribution a challenge.
The sector is growing and has positive local impacts, especially in remote rural locations where there's often little alternative occupation or opportunities for business development. The report demonstrates that recreation and tourism is important and Scotland’s forests provide the locations for entrepreneurs to create a range of profitable businesses.
Read the study about the value of supporting local forestry businesses for more information.
Future economic development
Scottish Forestry continues to support the wood fibre sector in its ambitions to add new value across the whole supply chain and find the most appropriate end markets for Scotland’s timber.
Our support involves successful partnerships and collaborations with public sector bodies and industry to initiate and support innovation, research and development, promotion and knowledge transfer. It helps meet timber and climate change actions in:
- Scotland’s Forestry Strategy 2019-2029
- Forest and Timber Technologies Industry Strategy – Roots for Further Growth
- Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation
- Scotland’s Future skills: action plan