A package of measures to ensure Scotland's national forests make a bigger impact on tackling climate change has been announced.

They include developing joint ventures on renewable energy projects, making the Scotland Rural Development Programme more effective in stimulating woodland creation, urging the Treasury to consider tax incentives and continuing to dispose of surplus land to raise income to establish new woodlands.

After careful consideration, Minister for Environment Roseanna Cunningham has written to the Conveners of the relevant Parliamentary Committees, Maureen Watt MSP and Patrick Harvie MSP, to inform them that the proposal of leasing parts of Scotland's national forests to private companies will not be taken forward.

Instead, Forestry Commission Scotland will now work to develop the other options to raise the money needed for increased tree planting to contribute fully to climate change targets.


Ms Cunningham said: "I have taken a good look at the options put forward and all the responses. After giving this serious consideration and in view of the comments we received, I have decided not to take leasing any further.

"On taking this decision, we should be under no illusion that without the leasing option, we now need to consider ways of raising funds in order to plant more trees such as those that I have already mentioned."

Options that were supported by key stakeholders in the consultation and will be explored further by Forestry Commission Scotland include exploring whether the Scotland Rural Development Programme could give more help to stimulate woodland creation, by making farm woodlands more attractive as an option for land managers.

The Treasury may be urged to examine how tax incentives can be used to generate more planting and developing the use of well-established arrangements whereby the Commission disposes of surplus land which does not meet Scottish Government objectives.

The income generated is used to buy other areas of land to create new woodlands which provides economic, social and environmental benefits. The Commission has already been doing this since 2005.

Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, has written to Maureen Watt MSP, Convener of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, and Patrick Harvie MSP, Convener of the Transport Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee, detailing the way forward.

(GK/JM)