Question reference: S6W-02266
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 16 August 2021 Registered interest
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 9 September 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland are taking to reform the Forestry Grant Scheme in order to encourage riparian planting.
Answer
The Forestry Grant Scheme already supports planting native broadleaved riparian woodland in a range of situations. 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.
Scottish Forestry will continue to develop and improve The Forestry Grant Scheme 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.
Forest and land Scotland (FLS) has no role in the Forestry Grant Scheme. FLS is a separate Agency charged with managing Scotland’s National Forest Estate.