Reimagining Scottish Forestry with Douglas MacMillan
Download MP3Today I speak to Douglas MacMillan who shares his analysis and criticisms of the current forestry model in Scotland - Douglas worked in the industry in the 1980's before moving into research related to forestry and sustainable land use systems.
In this conversation Douglas explains the historical background to afforestation in Scotland, current ownership, species selection, management techniques and ultimately who he says benefits from the status quo. Douglas gives his views on where Government policy and financial support structures are actually compounding the problems he sees. He also questions the wisdom of replanting Sitka Spruce on marginal sites and this leads onto broader ideas about how Scottish forestry could adapt to benefit the wider community and the environment more broadly.
Key Points:
In this conversation Douglas explains the historical background to afforestation in Scotland, current ownership, species selection, management techniques and ultimately who he says benefits from the status quo. Douglas gives his views on where Government policy and financial support structures are actually compounding the problems he sees. He also questions the wisdom of replanting Sitka Spruce on marginal sites and this leads onto broader ideas about how Scottish forestry could adapt to benefit the wider community and the environment more broadly.
Key Points:
- Sitka Spruce dominates Scottish Forestry in terms of planting and processing.
- The benefits of forestry are often concentrated in urban and peri urban areas, leaving little immediate benefit for rural communities (who host the plantations).
- Tourism in the Highlands could be enhanced by replacing the clearfell and replant model of forestry with more native woodlands.
- There is a need for more diversity in forestry in terms of species selection and supports for small scale sawmills and processors.
- A combination of low yield class and high wind throw risk render some highland plantations uneconomical - these sites offer great potential for rewilding.
- Moving forestry "down the hill" into the Scottish lowlands offers opportunities for more diverse species, integration of farming and forestry and improved silvicultural techniques.
Quotes:
"Why are we talking about yield class when we should be talking about meeting societal demand."
"I'm not saying you don't need the big mills, I'm saying you don't have anything else only the big mills."
"The benefits are shipped out to mills in urban areas."
"Forestry was traditionally owned by the laird, not farmers."
"I'm not saying you don't need the big mills, I'm saying you don't have anything else only the big mills."
"The benefits are shipped out to mills in urban areas."
"Forestry was traditionally owned by the laird, not farmers."
"Sitka is actually a beautiful tree - if it grows to 120 years, not when it's a spotty teenager at 40!"
"The Government needs to take the bull by the horns and say we need a different kind of policy."
"We have to take account of inequities and social disconnect between where the benefits are and where the costs are."
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Scottish Forestry: https://www.forestry.gov.scot/
Tilhill Forestry: https://www.tilhill.com/
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance: https://www.rewild.scot/
Follow the Guest on:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-macmillan-440319202/?skipRedirect=true
Inconvenient truths about Sikta Spruce: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7437119413868445696/
A timber processing strategy for the Uplands: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7450583561277149185/
The John Muir Trust: https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/
Follow the Forestry Now Podcast on:
Website: https://forestrynow.eu/
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forestry-now-podcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForestryNow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestry_now_podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForestryNowPodcast/
Contact Dermot:
forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com
Or at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/
"The Government needs to take the bull by the horns and say we need a different kind of policy."
"We have to take account of inequities and social disconnect between where the benefits are and where the costs are."
Click here for the ForestryNow podcast newsletter signup
Scottish Forestry: https://www.forestry.gov.scot/
Tilhill Forestry: https://www.tilhill.com/
The Scottish Rewilding Alliance: https://www.rewild.scot/
Follow the Guest on:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-macmillan-440319202/?skipRedirect=true
Inconvenient truths about Sikta Spruce: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7437119413868445696/
A timber processing strategy for the Uplands: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7450583561277149185/
The John Muir Trust: https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/
Follow the Forestry Now Podcast on:
Website: https://forestrynow.eu/
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forestry-now-podcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForestryNow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestry_now_podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForestryNowPodcast/
Contact Dermot:
forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com
Or at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/
Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Forestry in Scotland
01:33 Historical Context of Afforestation
05:00 Species Selection and Management Techniques
08:09 Current Ownership and Structure of Forestry
10:08 The Role of Small Forest Owners
13:10 Global Context and Economic Challenges
14:21 Profitability and Public Subsidies
18:25 Disadvantages of the Current Forestry Model
22:24 Impact on Tourism and Community Engagement
27:19 The Future of Timber Processing in Scotland
31:15 Challenges in Forestry Grant Systems
36:59 Reassessing Replanting Strategies
45:10 Envisioning a Sustainable Future for Scottish Forestry
49:44 Bringing Forestry Down the Hill
