Scotland's Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 draft: partial EQIA

Section 4: Meeting our General Equality Duty

You must complete the following sections:

Which aspects of the policy, practice or project seek to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation?

The Scottish Government has a zero tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment or victimisation and therefore, while the Forestry Strategy does not explicitly seek to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation, we will ensure that any plans, policies or projects that fall from it will seek to eliminate unlawful behaviour, where appropriate.

Which aspects of the policy, practice or project seek to advance equality of opportunity between people which share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not?

The development of the Forestry Strategy offers new opportunities to advance equality of opportunity and reduce inequalities between and within our communities across Scotland. It is not the sole purpose of the Forestry Strategy to advance equality of opportunity and it is a high-level document. However, in light of the evidence relating to lack of diversity within the forestry sector and engagement with under-represented groups across our communities, it is appropriate that steps are taken to ensure that equality of opportunity is assessed during planning, implementation and monitoring of the strategy moving forwards. As such, where they relate to people, including the forestry sector workforce, visitors/users and partners/stakeholders, the plans, policies and projects that are developed to implement the strategy will need to be equality impact assessed.

Fairer Scotland Duty: Which aspects of the policy, practice or project seek to advance equality of opportunity between people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and those who are not?

The development of the Forestry Strategy offers new opportunities to advance equality of opportunity and reduce inequalities across Scotland. One of its primary objectives is to deliver sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and it also includes reference to the opportunities for supporting the provision of affordable housing, fair work and quality jobs, as well as using forests to help reduce health inequalities, and promote social inclusion.

It is not the sole purpose of the Forestry Strategy to advance equality of opportunity and it is a high-level document. However, it is appropriate that steps are taken to ensure that equality of opportunity is assessed during planning, implementation and monitoring of the strategy moving forwards. As such, where they relate to people, including the forestry sector workforce, visitors/users and partners/stakeholders, the plans, policies and projects that are developed to implement the strategy will need to be impact assessed.

Which aspects of the policy, practice or project seek to foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not?

The Forestry Strategy does not explicitly seek to foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. However, the plans, policies or projects that fall out of the Forestry Strategy will seek to foster good relationships.