Question reference: S5W-33639
- Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 30 November 2020
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review forestry funding mechanisms to facilitate the planting of native trees on riverbanks to create shade to mitigate climate-induced warming.
Answer
The Forestry Grant Scheme already supports planting native broadleaved riparian woodland in a range of situations and it can be used to provide cooling shade and improve the habitat along rivers.
The Forestry Grant Scheme will continue to be developed and improved throughout the Stability and Simplicity rural funding transition period and as part of this there will be opportunities to review how it supports tree planting in different circumstances.
Since 2016 the Forestry Grant Scheme has supported the planting of over 500 native broadleaved riparian woodlands.
Furthermore, all tree planting and restocking proposals must comply with the UK Forestry Standard, which promotes an integrated catchment management approach and places particular emphasis on riparian woodland and its role in protecting and restoring the freshwater environment.