The Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics takes forward much of the work previously carried out by the Supply and Demand sub-committee of the Forestry Commission’s Advisory Panel.

The Group works on compiling information on the supply and demand of timber and forest products. It covers forecasts, surveys of forest removals, and the volumes delivered and processed by the primary industries.

The Group considers information needs in new areas, including the developing wood-fuel markets, forest certification, industry, manpower and machinery resources, and international trade statistics and impact of imports.

The Group examines the models and conventions used to generate some of the statistics and the research programmes that support improvement of the models. Care is taken to avoid duplication of timber and trade statistics from current sources such as the UKFPA and regular reports in the forestry press.

Members are nominated by the trade associations.