Woodfuel east project

[Charlieh]

just been on the woodfuels east website to see how things were progressing, seems that some of the links eg on harvesting proposals have been pulled off already,

 

it claims there is no wildwood in eastern counties therefore there are no issues with managing the woodlands and that 200,000tonnes of timber is wasted each year by woods not being managed, im sure the species that rely on dead wood dont think its wasted,

 

anyway sorry to be cynical but it looks like most FC partnerships/project, jobs for the boys and i cant see where it really brings any benefits, as i bet the people selected for carry out "harvesting" (when we find out what their harvesting stratergy is) will be big companies already involved in woodfuels already (like the ones on the steering group ) and i would be really keen to see what happens to the timber value, will it be like straw for Ely powerstation, its viable to start with as its a low cost waste product, but as more people get involved in the market, landowners become aware of the need to fill contracts and start putting prices up until it hits a point where its no longer economically viable.

 

I dont see this as of any benefit to the woods really, it may generate some income but in fairness the big blocks of woodland are managed, so its only the smaller ones, it might help to meet the governments sustainability targets but i think thats all it is, a tick box excercise, set up partnership project, reduce non-renewable co2, pat selves on back. Or am i being to cynical