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SRDP FORESTRY WORKING GROUP

SRDP FORESTRY WORKING GROUP. Woodland Expansion Advisory Group 22 May 2012. Land Use Strategy. Proposal 7

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SRDP FORESTRY WORKING GROUP

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  1. SRDP FORESTRY WORKING GROUP Woodland Expansion Advisory Group 22 May 2012

  2. Land Use Strategy Proposal 7 • Identify more closely which types of land are best for tree planting in the context of other land-based objectives, and promote good practice and local processes in relation to tree planting so as to secure multiple benefits.

  3. WEAG Membership • Dr Andrew Barbour: Chair. Woodland adviser to Atholl Estates • George McRobbie: UPM Tilhill • Angus Mccall: Scottish Tenant Farmers’ Association • Dr Andrew Midgley: Scottish Land and Estates • Nigel Miller: NFU Scotland • Jonnie Hall: NFU Scotland • George Milne: National Sheep Association • David Barnes: Scottish Government Rural and Environment Directorate • Professor Jeff Maxwell: Ex-Director of Macaulay Land Use Research Institute • Bob McIntosh: Director, Forestry Commission Scotland • Susan Davies: Scottish Natural Heritage • Jo O’Hara: Scottish Government Rural and Environment Directorate • Hamish Macleod: Director BSW and Chair of FC Scotland’s National Committee • Mark Aitken: Scottish Environmental Protection Agency • Stuart Goodall: Confor • Vicki Swales: RSPB Scotland • Simon Pepper: SNH Board member and former director WWF • Ian Ross: former Highland Council Chair of Highland Council Planning, Environment and Development Committee • Bill Ritchie: Scottish Crofting Federation

  4. WEAG work programme • Commissioned analyses of land availability by James Hutton Institute and Forest Research • Consultation exercise and public meetings in Dumfries, Oban, Inverness, Huntly, Perth and Newtown St Boswells • Reporting to Cabinet Secretary at Highland Show • Working papers online at weag@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

  5. Land analysis: Phase 1 • Biophysically unsuitable • Already woodland • Prime agricultural land • Deep peat • In total 46% of Scotland ruled out in first phase of study.

  6. Land analysis: Phase 2 • Nature conservation and landscape designations (orange) • A further 20% of Scotland is shown to be significantly constrained in second phase of study.

  7. Land analysis: Phase 3 • About one third of Scotland has, in theory, potential for woodland establishment… • …but lots of ‘buts’! • Rough grazing (blue) • Improved grassland (purple) • Mixed agriculture (green)

  8. Phase 3 Land Stocking Rate Analysis • SG/JHI analysis, based on Census data etc • less than 2 per cent of Scotland’s total livestock units would be displaced or lost from production through planting 100,000 hectares of improved/rough grazing on Phase 3 land over the next ten years. • impact on livestock production could be reduced through careful choice of land for planting and effective integration with agricultural operations.

  9. Some issues from WEAG consultation • Deciding, strategically, where there are opportunities for woodland creation(reflecting, eg, socio-economic as well as environmental impacts) • Integrating woodland creation with other land use objectives (including opportunities for agroforestry) • Grants/SRDP • Making the most of existing woodlands • Providing advice and support for woodland creation

  10. Advice and support • Calls for better integration between the agricultural and forestry sectors in Scotland. • Strong views were expressed about farmers not having the necessary skills or knowledge to engage in forestry. • Proposed solutions included more sharing of knowledge and education between farming and forestry, so that (eg) farmers would have the skills to establish and manage woodlands themselves. • Also suggested that farm advisers have a key role to play in encouraging farmers to manage their existing woodlands and to consider opportunities for creating new woodlands.

  11. SRDP/grants • need to avoid hiatus between SRDP1 & SRDP2 • too bureaucratic, complex, and uncertain • mismatch between incentives and policy objectives • importance of facilitators/advisers (eg to encourage collaborative proposals between neighbours) • ‘Applicant’s Charter’ • financial risk of failure/reclaim a major deterrent • compensation for agricultural income foregone

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