Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the new Register of Ancient Woodlands, to be delivered in 2027 as outlined in the Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan, will (a) facilitate a designation for Scotland's ancient woods, similar to that for ancient monuments, as part of its commitment to protect at least 30% of land by 2030, (b) specify opportunities for Scotland's communities, including local and interest groups, to engage in the process and act in partnership with landowners, statutory agencies and regulators to protect and restore ancient woodland, (c) lead to genuine enforcement action, including in relation to invasive non-native species and over grazing, (d) review the reported lack of shared standards in the administration of Tree Preservation Orders and prosecution for unlicensed felling in ancient woodland, (e) retain the Long Established Plantation Origin (LEPO) category of woods currently in the Scottish Ancient Woodland Inventory, (f) include plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) and (g) ensure that LEPO sites and PAWS benefit from the protection from development recently afforded to ancient woodland in the fourth National Planning Framework.
NatureScot and Scottish Forestry are currently putting together a project plan to build on the existing Ancient Woodland Inventory to develop the new National Register of Ancient Woodlands. The scope of the project has therefore yet to be fully agreed, but in line with the priority action in the Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan, the Register will include locational data, a definition of the required ‘protected and restored’ condition of ancient woodlands, and a process for recording ancient woodlands that reach the required standard. In response to the component questions:
a) The inclusion of a woodland site on the Register will not automatically qualify it to contribute to the target to achieve 30% of Scotland protected and managed for nature by 2030 (the 30 by 30 target).Any site on the Register which isn’t within an existing protected area would need to be evaluated against the criteria for Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) before being considered for inclusion in the 30 by 30 network. NatureScot is currently working with stakeholders – including those with expertise of ancient woodlands - to agree how the OECM criteria will apply in Scotland.
b) There are likely to be opportunities for local people, communities and interest groups to participate in the process of developing the new National Register of Ancient Woodlands. For example, it is envisaged that Guidance will be developed and tested with interested parties to enable the identification of ancient woodlands and to assess their condition. This should allow communities to deepen their understanding of and connection to their local ancient woodlands.
c) The creation of the Register will not in itself be an enforcement mechanism, however the associated condition reports will be invaluable in prioritising action to tackle negative pressures on sites, for example in relation to invasive non-native species or overgrazing.
d) The Register would not cover Tree Preservation Orders as these are not explicitly related to ancient woodlands and can cover a wide range of individually important trees, which are outwith the scope of the Register.
e & f)The Long Established Plantation Origin (LEPO) and Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) categories from the existing Ancient Woodland Inventory will be taken into consideration when the Register is developed and it is anticipated that they will be retained.
g)Our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) places climate and nature at the centre of our planning system and includes policy to protect our existing woodlands and trees. Local Development Plans should also identify and protect existing woodland and the potential for its enhancement or expansion.