A billion trees must be planted in Scotland to achieve forests goal

09/02/2009

The Scottish environment minister, Michael Russell, says a billion trees need to be planted in the country if it is to achieve the goal of ensuring 25% of the country is covered in woodland by 2050.

Russell says that new land is to become forest, particularly in the Highland and islands. However, to meet the target, the rate of planting will need to be doubled to 25,000 acres per year.

Scotland must increase its tree planting and create new forests, says Russell, who explains, "Rates of woodland creation have generally declined since the high levels up to 1990. To continue this trend in the current climate is not an option - an increase in woodland creation must happen.

However, the minister plans to raise the money for the planting programme through controversial plans to lease 25% of Forestry Commission woodland to private firms for up to 75 years. The plan has attracted much criticism from forestry unions and environmental groups.
However, Russell says the programme will cost as much as £200 million.

The forestry programme is intended to safeguard jobs and create new ones, especially in the biomass production sector.