CEP’s environmental and economic evaluation of TimberLINK published by Forestry Commission Scotland

CEP, with partners Reference Economic Consultants and the University of Strathclyde, was commissioned by Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) to carry out an Environmental and Economic Evaluation of the TimberLINK service.  TimberLINK is a public service contract, funded by the Scottish Government, to support short-sea coastal shipping of roundwood in Scotland.

The report, now published by Forestry Commission Scotland, establishes an understanding and, where possible, a monetisation of the direct and indirect environmental and economic impacts of the TimberLINK service and potential alternatives. 

For financial year 2015/16, the evaluation found that TimberLINK produces a net benefit of £620,660, which is similar to the value of the subsidy, meaning that payments are commensurate with the realised environmental and economic benefits of the service.  In reality, these benefits are likely to exceed the subsidy payment as the environmental benefits estimated are highly conservative.

Forestry Commission Scotland has used the evaluation results to inform ongoing deliberations regarding future spending policy and priorities, including the contract for TimberLINK which has recently been renewed.

For more information on TimberLINK see our relevant Case Study webpage or contact the CEP project manager for the TimberLINK evaluation Dr Peter Phillips.