New woodland creation will strengthen the rural economy
Scotland’s forestry sector has been boosted by news that planting plans for 1,200 hectares of new woodland have been backed with £6.5 million in
Government funding.
At more than twice the amount awarded in any previous month, this is the highest level of funding awarded since the Scotland’s Forestry Grant Scheme was set up last year.
Projects range from productive, sustainable conifer schemes in Perthshire, Argyll and the border hills to a large native woodland scheme in Knoydart .
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing made the announcement at the Scottish Government’s second forestry summit near Aviemore where he said more trees were needed to generate further growth in the sector.
He added: “This latest grant funding is a significant government investment towards this goal, and I am pleased to see that the rate of new planting
proposals has increased, though funding is, of course, only part of the story.
“We want to speed up and streamline approval processes for sustainable planting schemes.
“New woodland creation will help strengthen forestry’s contribution to our rural economy as well as helping to meet our climate change targets.”
