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Forestry and Land Scotland has appointed a Head of Harvesting Support to provide strategic direction and practical support to FLS staff, partner organisations and customers on timber harvesting in order to achieve efficiencies within the forestry sector.

Mark Crowley, who has enjoyed a career in forestry since graduating from Aberdeen University in 1996, will take up the newly created role at the end of September.

As well as taking the lead for technical matters related to timber harvesting, the Head of Harvesting Support will lead FLS engagement with industry initiatives facilitated by Scottish Enterprise, Confor and the Strategic Timber Transport Forum. Mick Bottomley as FLS Head of Marketing and Sales will continue to lead on managing the overarching FLS relationships with timber customers.

Mark said;

“I’m really looking forward to getting started in this new post at a crucially important time for forestry in Scotland.

“As we work towards getting all of our forestry operations back on track following the initial impact of COVID-19 I’m looking forward to driving forward an ambitious programme of continual improvement around FLS harvesting operations. This includes investigating how we can recover more fibre from harvesting sites and how we can use technology more to better understand crops and product breakouts to help FLS and its customers add value to the wood processing supply chain. 

“Ultimately this will help strengthen Scotland’s forestry and timber processing sectors and will further enhance forestry’s contribution to the economy.

“It’s going to be a challenging but very rewarding role and I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues across the country – and with a wide range of our customers and partners – to make forestry in Scotland an even more integral element of our economy and our Climate Change effort.”

The new role sits within the FLS Technical Services Group led by Doug Knox which also guides the agency’s delivery of plant & seed supply, forest management, deer management and civil engineering.

 

Notes to editors

  1. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.

  2. forestryandland.gov.scot | twitter.com/ForestryLS

  3. Media enquiries to Paul Munro, Media Manager, Forestry and Land Scotland Media Office 0131 370 5059 or paul.munro@forestryandland.gov.scot