Insights from the ICF Conference
Alastair Squire, Senior Forest Manager for Flintshire Woodlands, offers his reflections after attending the recent ICF conference.
"A highly engaging and thought-provoking couple of days at the ICF National Conference in Newport, Wales."
"Several key themes stood out for me. Encouragingly, there is a general consensus that timber supply security looks strong over the next 10 years and remains reasonably stable over a 50-year horizon. However, beyond this, there are significant concerns. The positive takeaway is that it is not too late if we prioritise successful and productive restocking, maintain all restocked coupes well and deliver productive woodland creation at the scale currently being promoted across the UK, we still have an opportunity to address these long-term challenges."
"Another important discussion focused on the need to develop and adopt productive alternatives to Sitka Spruce, particularly in upland areas. This is critical not only in response to changes in the UK Forestry Standard and UKWAS around species diversity, but also to improve resilience in the face of climate change. There is a clear “chicken and egg” situation between nurseries and forest managers—nurseries want clarity on demand, while managers need cost-effective, productive alternatives. Collaborative, proactive action across the sector will be essential to avoid being forced into a reactive position later."
"Finally, it was great to see strong student engagement from across the forestry schools. Supporting and developing the next generation of foresters is vital. There were also interesting conversations around introducing temperate forestry into the UK national curriculum—ambitious, but potentially transformative for both the sector and for wider environmental awareness."
"A valuable conference with important discussions for the future of forestry."