Wood Supply and Demand - The Medium Term Prospects for Britain [and Discussion]

This paper presents a general review of probable changing trends in demand for wood, with special reference to the interchangability of wood fibre products and sheet materials in competition with solid sawn-goods. The possible changes upon market demands in view of the high energy content of competitive materials and, in particular, the attractive low energy factors in the production of sawn-goods now that the cheap energy era is phasing out are considered, together with the increased removal potential from European forest resources now that under modern silviculture there is an expanding annual increment. A brief study of the probable trend of consumption of industrial wood in Europe in the short term future and the expected pattern of sources of supply for the importing countries is made, and the possible pressures of environmental factors upon the harvesting of the forests resources discussed.