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10   MARKET BEATS                                                                  JAN/FEB 2025 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com






          Mahony, commented:                                 than 2023’s value.
            “UK Forest Market Report 2024 shows a resilient yet   In Wales, planting land also increased by 92 percent, to
          evolving UK forestry sector, where, despite investor caution,   1,300 ha, with the average price per gross hectare valued at
          there is strong demand for quality assets."        £16,800, which is up 26 percent up from the year of 2023.

            “Stable timber prices, recovering interest in natural capital   The report acknowledges that while Sitka spruce remains
          projects, and the rise of biodiversity regulations are driving   the most popular species at market, more species diversity
          growth.”                                           as well as improved silviculture is required to ensure industry
            44 forestry properties numbering a total 5,400 stocked   longevity, as the sector faces increasing environmental challenges.
          hectares, 79 percent of which were located in Scotland, the   “Interest base rates seem quite settled around the five
          report found.                                      percent mark for now but if forecasts for lower base rates
            The report also demonstrated a reduction in the average   become a reality, forestry could be increasingly attractive,”
          sale price agreed for forestry at £18,600/ha (18% less than   the report said.
          the year previous).                                   With greater political certainty after the budget, the report

            However, this figure is purportedly distorted by the   also forecasted plenty of opportunities in 2025, with several
          disproportionately high volume of northern Scottish properties—  high-value properties expected to come to the market.
          which are typically lower in value due to the distance from   The documents also reported that projects with ecological
          core timber markets—considered.                    benefits, such as biodiversity and water quality improvements,
            The report discovered a drop in the supply of commercial   achieved two to three times higher prices for carbon credits
          forestry available for sale across the board.      than standard rates, highlighting the demand for sustainable
            In Scotland, the volume of land available for sale dropped   land investments.

          by 40 percent to 1,600 ha, as availability of land suitable for
          commercial  forestry  continued  to  tighten  despite  sustained   Ukraine in 2025 to invest in forestry machinery and
          demand.                                            equipment
            Pricing for land has, however, stabilised at around £10,000/  In  2024,  the  State  Enterprise  Forests  of  Ukraine  invested
          gross ha.                                          almost UAH 400 million in the purchase of new fire-fighting
            Land marketed in England increased 92 percent to 1,600   equipment, carried out the largest forest planting in recent
          ha, at an average £14,500/gross ha, which is 13 percent less   years, and in 2025, more than UAH 600 million will be spent on
                                                             forestry machinery and equipment for mechanised harvesting,

         pixabay.com                                         according to interfax.com.ua.
                                                                As general director of one of the state enterprise wrote on
                                                             Facebook, in 2024, the State Enterprise Forests of Ukraine
                                                             allocated more than UAH 1 billion to support the Armed
                                                             Forces of Ukraine and UAH 800 million for social support.
                                                                He noted that despite the lack of precipitation, abnormal
                                                             heat, mining and constant air attacks in 2024, the area of
                                                             fires was several times smaller than the average in 2015-2020.

                                                                "Thanks to profitable work, almost UAH 400 million has been
                                                             invested in mobile modern equipment for rapid response to
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