Scottish Forestry Strategy 2006.

The vision of the present Scottish Forestry Strategy is that by the second half of this century, people are benefiting widely from Scotland’s trees, woodlands and forests, actively engaging with and looking after them for the use and enjoyment of generations to come. The forestry resource has become a central part of culture, economy and the environment. The principles of the Forestry Strategy are defined as follows: i) Sustainable development - underpinned by sustainable forest management; ii) Social inclusion - through helping to provide opportunities for all, and helping to build stronger communities; iii) Forestry for and with people; iv) Integration with other land uses and businesses. The desired outcomes are indicated in Part I as: 1) Improved health and well-being of people and their communities; 2) Competitive and innovative businesses contributing to the growth of the Scottish economy; 3) High quality, robust and adaptable environment. The specific objectives of the Strategy are to: 1) assist community participation; 2) enhance opportunities for health and enjoyment; 3) contribute to growth in learning and skills; 4) develop a more efficient and competitive timber supply chain; 5) facilitate the development of markets for forest products; 6) facilitate rural business diversification and development; 7) increase the contribution of forestry to tourism; 8) Help to tackle climate change; 9) contribute positively to soil, water and air quality; 10) contribute to landscape quality; 11) protect and promote the historic environment and cultural heritage; 12) help to protect and enhance biodiversity.Seven key themes will help achieve the above-mentioned vision: 1) Using forestry, and adapting forestry practices, to help reduce the impact of climate change and help Scotland adapt to its changing climate; 2) Getting the most from Scotland’s increasing and sustainable timber resource; 3) Strengthening forestry through business development to underpin sustainable forest management and support economic growth and employment across Scotland; 4) Improving the quality of life and well-being of people by supporting community development across Scotland; 5) Making access to, and enjoyment of, woodlands easier for everyone - to help improve physical and mental health in Scotland; 6) Protecting the environmental quality of our natural resources (water, soil and air), contributing to and improving our scenery, and helping to make the most of our unique historic environment; 7) Helping to restore, maintain and enhance Scotland’s biodiversity, and increasing awareness and enjoyment of it. Scottish forestry will need to integrate effectively with other land uses - and with sectors such as energy, transport, health, water, education and tourism - to get the most out of these key themes.Part III deals with Delivery and Implementation. In particular, delivering the vision is based on the principles of: sustainability; long-term planning; good woodland management; integration with other land uses and businesses; reflecting regional and local priorities; and maintaining high professional standards. Ways of delivering the vision include: information and guidance; regulation; incentives; public sector services; and state intervention. Almost two thirds of Scotland’s woodland area is owned and managed by private individuals, businesses, local authorities, charities, community groups, and a wide range of other interests. They all have a key role in helping to deliver this Strategy. The national forest estate - managed on behalf of Scottish Ministers by Forestry Commission Scotland includes just under one third of Scotland’s woodland area.It is increasingly focused on six priorities: 1 safeguarding ‘national forestry treasures’; 2) delivering forestry for people and rural development; 3) managing landscape-scale areas for threatened species and habitats; 4) retaining sufficient timber production potential to help market stability and development; 5) using acquisition, sale or land transfer, partnerships and other arrangements to generate a greater scale and pace of change; and 6) sustaining sufficient regional presence to provide policy development, exemplar and leadership roles.In Appendix 2 in the section Rural Development it is established that the EU regulatory framework for supporting rural development between 2007 and 2013 is provided in the Rural Development Regulation (RDR) (1698/2005). It is based on four measures (Axes): 1) Axis 1 - improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry by supporting restructuring, development and innovation; Axis 2 - improving the environment and the countryside by supporting land management; Axis 3 - improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity; and Axis 4 - the LEADER initiative. This aims to enhance the role of the ‘bottom-up’, community based approach to rural development, with the central principles of innovation, co-operation, capacity building and improved local governance.Throughout the Strategy it is highlighted that an integrated approach is important particularly in view of land use issues. In Chapter I it is underlined that forestry is fully integrated with other rural and urban land uses. It is contributing positively to other non-land based agendas such as energy, housing and health. In Key Theme 3 concerning Business Development it is established that it is important to promote a joined up approach to land management, identifying economic opportunities from more integrated approaches to land use. Also in Key Theme 7 on Biodiversity it stressed that an integrated approach to supporting land management, such as through Land Management Contracts, can help create appropriate landscape-scale habitat mosaics and networks.Forestry Commission Scotland will be the Strategy’s ‘champion’. It will also have overall responsibility for monitoring and reporting on progress through a series of short to medium-term Implementation Plans that define milestones and indicate the target rate of progress. The first of these will be produced in 2007. The Scottish Forestry Forum will give advice on preparing the Implementation Plans and on annual reporting against targets and milestones. The Plans will be reviewed annually and a report posted on the Commission’s website. Forestry Commission Scotland, with advice from the Scottish Forestry Forum, will consider the need to review the Strategy after five years.Part III contains a section on Incentives which provides for funding and lists them as follows: Direct revenue from the sale of timber; Fiscal incentives apply to forestry; Support for agriculture and forestry is governed principally by the EU’s Rural Development Regulations. Measures under these Regulations will be guided by the Scottish Rural Development Strategic Plan; the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD); National Lottery funding is mainly through: the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF); The Big Lottery; the Scottish Arts Council; Scottish Screen; and Awards for All. There is also a wide range of other funding sources available, such as: the Scottish Executive (for example Scottish Natural Heritage), local authorities, the Enterprise network and other public organisations awarding grants; trust funding and others.The text consists of 3 Parts: Our Vision for Scottish Forestry (I); Achieving the Vision (II); Delivery (III); Appendices

Implements: Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (Asp 3 of 2003). (2003-03-05)