This piece is an extract from this week's Forestry Features newsletter, which is emailed out at 4PM every Wednesday with a round-up of the week's top stories. 

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AS far as forestry in the UK goes, Scotland has long since been the jewel in the crown. Most of the country's productive forestry takes place there. Most of its tree planting, too. 

In the most recent annual figures, it was the only one of all the four nations to prioritise conifer planting over broadleave; albeit many will have their views as to whether or not that was a good thing. 

READ MORE: Forestry workers praised by MSPs for contribution to Scottish life

What can be said with some certainty, however, is that when industry figures talk of "lost causes" they tend to have their attention turned firmly southwards. But it wouldn't take much for that to change. 

Unless you've been living under a particularly stubborn rock lately, you'll have noticed that Scotland's ruling party, the SNP, is currently choosing a new leader, who will succeed long-serving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. On her watch, forestry has "thrived", according to Confor's Stuart Goodall, with both Ms Sturgeon and a string of ministers responsible for the sector (currently Mairi McAllan) backing it wholeheartedly. A debate last year in the Scottish Parliament saw cross-party MSPs praise the industry. 

But in recent years, tree planting figures have fallen, there has been some discontent around felling licences, and the formation of Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has been questioned by a number of those on the ground. 

That's why it was encouraging to see a recent campaign video from one of the potential next first ministers, Kate Forbes. In the clip, she called for Scottish forestry to be used for Scottish timber which in turn would be used to build Scottish homes through Scottish ingenuity. To put it another way, exactly what the sector has been calling for for some time. 

Putting to one side some of Ms Forbes' other views (albeit, that won't be an easy thing to do for many), the fact the use of timber and its wider benefits to society are at the forefront of her campaign is to be applauded. The finance secretary does have a record of talking up the industry, visiting BSW's Fort William sawmill in her constituency just last year. 

As for the other candidates – health secretary Humza Yousaf and former community safety minister Ash Regan – their commitment to forestry remains to be seen. Forestry Journal contacted both of their teams to ask how they would support the sector. Neither responded. 

Forestry is in a great place in Scotland, but the potential is there for it to be even stronger. Whoever wins the race to be the leader of the SNP and the new first minister has to recognise that.