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The Multiple Roles of Scottish Woodlands

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SPICe Briefing Pàipear-ullachaidh SPICe The Multiple Roles of Scottish Woodlands Annie Yang This briefing identifies the multiple roles of Scotland's forests, including their role in reaching net- zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, and addressing ongoing biodiversity declines. Insights from interviews with key experts are also provided. The briefing provides an overview of policy related to forests, and policy changes in Scotland. 9 September 2020 SB 20-58 The Multiple Roles of Scottish Woodlands, SB 20-58 Contents Executive Summary _____________________________________________________4 Introduction ____________________________________________________________6 Forestry and Woodlands in Scotland _______________________________________7 Total Area of Woodland __________________________________________________7 Woodland Composition __________________________________________________7 Planting and Restocking ________________________________________________14 Woodland Benefits _____________________________________________________16 Economic Benefits _____________________________________________________16 Social Benefits ________________________________________________________17 Community Forestry _________________________________________________18 Environmental Benefits _________________________________________________19 Climate and Ecological Emergencies ______________________________________20 Climate and Forests____________________________________________________21 Climate Trends ______________________________________________________21 Forests and Carbon __________________________________________________23 Soil Carbon_______________________________________________________26 Deer Management _________________________________________________27 Wood Energy _____________________________________________________28 Biodiversity and Forests_________________________________________________30 International Biodiversity Trends ________________________________________30 Biodiversity in Scotland _______________________________________________32 Linking Biodiversity and Climate __________________________________________36 Land _________________________________________________________________40 Land Ownership ______________________________________________________41 Policy ________________________________________________________________44 Forest Governance ____________________________________________________44 Woodland Ownership _________________________________________________45 Scotland's Forestry Strategy _____________________________________________47 Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan 2020 - 2022 _________________________51 Woodland Creation___________________________________________________54 National Performance Framework _______________________________________56 Natural Capital ____________________________________________________57 Forestry Grant Scheme _______________________________________________58 Woodlands in and Around Towns________________________________________61 2 The Multiple Roles of Scottish Woodlands, SB 20-58 Tax Incentives_______________________________________________________63 Environmental Impact Assessment ______________________________________64 Land Use Strategy _____________________________________________________64 Climate Change Policy__________________________________________________65 Climate Change Plan ________________________________________________66 Climate Ready Scotland_______________________________________________69 Woodland Carbon Code_______________________________________________71 Regional Land Use Partnerships ________________________________________73 Green Recovery _____________________________________________________75 Biodiversity Policy _____________________________________________________76 Forests and Policy Change ______________________________________________80 Timeline _____________________________________________________________80 The First Forestry Act_________________________________________________81 Increases in Afforestation and Timber Production ___________________________82 Changing Role of Forests _____________________________________________84 Sustainable Forest Management ________________________________________86 Appendix 1: Stakeholder Views Summary __________________________________88 Appendix 2: Forest Policy Linkages _______________________________________90 International / EU Commitments and Standards ______________________________90 National Performance Framework ________________________________________90 National Plans and Strategies ____________________________________________91 Forests and Woodlands: National Legislation, Plans and Strategies_____________91 Climate Change: National Legislation, Plans and Strategies ___________________91 Biodiversity: National Legislation, Plans and Strategies ______________________92 Related National Policies ______________________________________________92 Statutory Bodies ____________________________________________________93 Independent Advisory groups___________________________________________93 Local / Regional Relevant Plans ________________________________________94 Bibliography___________________________________________________________95 3 The Multiple Roles of Scottish Woodlands, SB 20-58 Executive Summary 1. This briefing provides an overview of existing policies and strategies related to forest creation, management, and use in Scotland, for multiple objectives, and the role of forests in light of the climate and biodiversity emergencies. 2. Stakeholder views were captured via semi-structured interviews with 16 key experts. 3. The terms forests and woodlands are used interchangeably in this briefing to describe a tract of land that is predominantly tree coveredi. 4. Over the last 100 years, Scottish woodlands have increased from 5% to 18.5% total land cover, due to changing needs, policy, and perceptions. 5. The Scottish Government has set targets to increase woodland cover to 21% of the total area of Scotland by 2032. 6. Evidence provided in this briefing reveals that woodland creation is far from simple, with suitability dependent on a number of social, ecological and economic factors. 7. Scotland's Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 outlines three core objectives reflecting economic, environmental, and social aspects. 8. Scotland's forests provide a range of economic benefits. In 2015 an estimated £771 million came from forestry and timber processing, and £183 million from forest recreation and tourism. 9. Bioenergy offers an opportunity for climate change mitigation and contributed to 4.4% of the Scotland's energy demand in 2016 but also has associated risks. 10. The social benefits of woodlands, although hard to measure, can include improvements in physical and mental health through recreation and exercise. These benefits have been promoted through innovative health initiatives, such as Branching Out. 11. Community woodland initiatives can support multiple objectives. The Scottish Land Commission suggests that more needs to be done to enable opportunities for community land ownership and a voice over land use decisions. 12. Scottish woodlands support a number of essential ecosystem services including carbon storage, water supply and regulation, timber, energy, and habitat for biodiversity, amongst others. 13. Forests are recognised in policy for their key role in mitigating and adapting to both the climate and ecological emergencies. 14. Scottish Government has recognised the interaction between climate change and biodiversity loss in the The Environment Strategy for Scotland: vision and outcomes. 15. Scotland has taken climate action by committing to become net zero, by 2045. i there is no standard definition in the policy literature. 4 The Multiple Roles of Scottish Woodlands, SB 20-58 16. Forests are a principal 'carbon sink' as identified in Scotland's Climate Change Plan 2018-2032 . 17. Scotland’s Land Use Strategy, which underpins Scotland's forestry Strategy, emphasises that, to maximise the benefits that nature provides, requires a coordinated action at the landscape scale. 18. It cannot yet be determined if Scotland's Forestry Strategy itself will deliver on addressing the climate and ecological crises. The woodland creation targets are on track but the impacts on biodiversity are not yet known. 19. The Scottish Government, in response to the social and economic challenges of the coronavirus health crisis want to ensure Scotland has a green, just and resilient recovery. 20. Combatting the climate and ecological emergencies, can be part of a 'green recovery' in which Scotland's forests will have a strong role to play. 21. To achieve the multiple objectives outlined in the Forestry Strategy, Scotland’s Land Use Strategy with Regional Land Use Partnerships are considered a necessity by the majority of the interviewees. Supporting a regional approach for land use decisions. 22. Full devolution of forestry to Scotland came into effect in April 2019, with the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018, leading to the establishment of Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland. 23. The recent publication of Scotland's Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan 2020 - 2022 outlines the actions, monitoring (including indicators) and reporting for the Scotland's Forestry Strategy. 24. At the start of the century, forestry policy was mostly singular in focus, promoting timber production but over time has increasingly recognised forests as multi- functional. 25. Through the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS), regulation,
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