UNCERTAINTY abounds as the forestry sector – and the world at large – continues to get to grips with the COVID-19 crisis. As the UK Government continues to stress the importance of self-isolation and social distancing, thousands of people have been consigned to their homes and businesses up and down the country have been forced to shut their doors.

Forestry is certainly not immune to these pressures, so how has it responded to the crisis? Forestry Journal reached out to several industry figures to find out.

Stuart Goodall, chief executive of Confor, said the industry body was in the process of gathering information from members on the impact COVID-19 is having on their businesses.

He said: “There is a lot of anxiety and concern that they don’t know what’s going to happen next, and they don’t know what the impact could be, not just on them and operating their own businesses but on their customers, who are buying wood. Will the markets be there? If you can’t sell the timber, then that has an impact all the way back down the supply chain.

“The one thing that we do believe it is important for government to do is to recognise that the forestry and wood supply chain is a critical industry. We provide products required for wood pallets to move pharmaceutical products and food products around; we provide the wood pellets and woodchips that go into heating some hospitals and care homes and schools; and we provide products for the construction sector, which we are hoping will still continue because it is vital.”

Confor has also set up a dedicated online information hub in response to the ongoing fallout from the virus.

 “I spoke with the chief executives of the forestry agencies in England, Scotland and Wales and contacted the Northern Ireland equivalents, to say that we were doing this and that it could act as a hub for them to provide information and communicate with the industry,” explained Mr Goodall. “It’s a one-stop shop for information on what is happening in the sector and also the business information that is relevant to the forestry and timber sector.”

Donald MacLean, chairman of the Forestry Contracting Association, said that while members are deeply concerned, many are continuing to work for the time being as they are lone machine operators in rural areas. He commented: “The biggest worry is how long it’s going to go on for. Everybody is quite happy to sit around and do their bit for a little while but it’s not clear how long this is going to affect folks’ businesses, so it’s just that uncertainty, which is the same for everybody in the country.”

As for the machinery sector, Per Annemalm, managing director of Komatsu Forest UK, said the company was heeding government advice and had adapted its working practices accordingly. “We keep the business going as we have before, delivering parts, doing service and having our salespeople communicating with our customers. In that way, the supply line to our customers is intact. We have a well-stocked central warehouse and stock in Longtown, Cumbria that can supply parts.”

Per added: “There is uncertainty in the market and among customers. Of course, you would expect some of them to react negatively, but you have to remember that the forest itself is an important supply chain for consumers. People order online, they need boxes for transport; people, more than ever, are buying toilet roll; so, forestry is still an important part which has to work and we just have to make sure that we supply the services and components and machines so that it can keep working.”