Question reference: S6W-00407
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 2 June 2021
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 21 June 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what area of land Forestry and Land Scotland and its predecessor, Forest Enterprise Scotland, has purchased in each year since 2007-08, also broken down by (a) how much this cost and (b) what area has subsequently been planted for woodland creation.
Answer
Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and its predecessor Forest Enterprise Scotland have acquired the following under the New Woodland Investment Programme (2017 - 2021) / Repositioning Programme (2007 – 2016):
Financial Year | Area (Ha) | Price (£) | Woodland Created (Ha) |
2007-2008 | 2,855.80 | 8,150,900 | 30.00 |
2008-2009 | 2,112.00 | 9,624,000 | 890.00 |
2009-2010 | 423.43 | 1,920,491 | 740.00 |
2010-2011 | 3,039.98 | 9,572,600 | 840.00 |
2011-2012 | 2,039.15 | 10,722,001 | 1,320.00 |
2012-2013 | 2,804.34 | 7,816,050 | 850.00 |
2013-2014 | 490.38 | 2,397,290 | 620.00 |
2014-2015 | 2,623.09 | 8,398,500 | 400.00 |
2015-2016 | 1,447.50 | 670,000 | 710.00 |
2016-2017 | 6.10 | 90,101 | 1,060.00 |
2017-2018 | 1,163.78 | 4,495,101 | 870.00 |
2018-2019 | 2,105.46 | 1,788,154 | 1,030.00 |
2019-2020 | 1,043.13 | 2,928,137 | 270.00 |
2020-2021 | 1,401.83 | 4,808,469 | 542.00 |
Total | 23,555.97 | 73,381,794 | 10,172.00 |
Sites acquired can vary in cost per hectare depending on the location, type of land (bare land or land with forestry and buildings), and potential constraints therefore a higher cost does not mean necessarily more land. The range can be from around £3,000 per hectare for restored Vacant and Derelict Land to over £10,000 per hectare for better quality bare land with minor constraints.
In addition to sites acquired specifically for woodland creation, funds from forest sales have also been used for strategic acquisitions of established forests, typically where they abut existing landholdings (for example the 2,340ha of nationally important Caledonian Pinewoods acquired at the heart of the Cairngorms), the Woodlands In and Around Towns (WIAT) programme and the Starter Farms programme.
Please note that statistics for the area of sites acquired which have been planted are not available directly as such plantings are aggregated with new woodland created on the existing estate.
It should also be noted that there is a lag of several years between the acquisition of a site and its subsequent planting. This is due to the forest planning (including approval) process and to integrate planting of new sites with the restocking of existing harvested sites.
In agreement with Scottish Ministers, the New Woodland investment programme was closed at the end of FY 20-21 - the winding up process for this is likely to take up to five years due to residual obligations and commitments.