Scotland's Forestry Strategy 2019-2029: consultation draft

1. Introduction to the draft forestry strategy

This Scottish Government draft Forestry Strategy provides a 10-year framework for action to achieve a 50-year vision for Scotland's woodlands and forests. The content of this draft strategy is fundamental to our ambitions for forestry, and has the principles of sustainable forest management at its core.

It builds on and modernises the approach undertaken in previous forestry strategies; it places forestry at the heart of government, and it drives and underpins the wide variety of forest and woodland activities taking place throughout the country that are delivering, and will continue to deliver, an extensive range of sustainable economic, environmental and social benefits, now and in the future.

Whilst the focus of this draft strategy is to sustain and increase the substantial benefits Scotland derives from the sustainable creation and management of its woodlands and forests; we recognise the important contribution that trees outside of woodlands and forests make in enhancing our rural and urban landscapes, their role in addressing air pollution and their biodiversity and cultural value. The Scottish Government will, therefore, continue to work with a wide range of partners on appropriate implementation of the existing regulatory and policy framework covering these trees (see Annex A).

Through this draft strategy we provide an overview of forestry in Scotland, set out our long-term vision for Scottish forestry within the context of our wider land use ambitions, identify the major issues we need to address to realise this vision and identify clear priorities and policies for delivery.

The draft strategy has been prepared in line with the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act (FLM(S)A) 2018 (see Annex B). Following this consultation, we will review the consultation responses and use them to prepare the final strategy, aiming to lay it, and associated documentation, before the Scottish Parliament in early 2019.