Nov 13, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Scotland's cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment, Richard Lochhead, is to work with ConFor on maximising the role that Scotland's forestry and wood-using businesses can play in the transition to a low-carbon economy, as The Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor) said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. "We had an excellent meeting with the cabinet secretary", said Colin Mann, chair of ConFor. "It was good to secure his support for further work to ensure that our finite resource of forestry and wood can play an increased role in tackling carbon emissions and creating jobs". The Scottish Government has proven to be very supportive of forestry and wood-using businesses. However, as the climate change challenge increases and public policy develops, there is a need to ensure that government action continues to support a successful sector. Colin continued, "The cabinet secretary is well aware of the carbon and job benefits of planting more trees and using wood. Building on that, we want to ensure that we achieve the levels of new planting that both the government and the sector wish to see and that wood is used in a way that both supports sustainable businesses and makes its greatest contribution to reducing carbon emissions." A particular area of interest is encouraging the use of wood in its solid form. ConFor has lobbied for the carbon locked up in a ‘harvested wood product' to be recognised as part of a country's carbon accounting, and it is hoped this will be agreed at Copenhagen in December. Inclusion of HWPs would provide an additional reason for governments to support the use of wood.