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Area of Woodland: 1924-2008
Area (thousand hectares)
| 1924 | 1947 | 1965 | 1980 | 1995 | 2008 16 |
|---|
Area (000 hectares) | 435 | 513 | 656 | 920 | 1,282 | 1,342 |
|---|
% of total land | 5.5 | 6.5 | 8.3 | 11.7 | 16.3 | 17.2 |
|---|
The extent of woodland 17 is of significant environmental importance. Woodland provides wildlife habitats and affects the physical environment, and is also valued as a location for recreation and for its contribution to the landscape. It can also contribute to the sustainable production of wood products and paper, and provide a source of renewable energy.
Woodland is managed by the Forestry Commission, other public bodies (including other government departments and local authorities), and private owners. The Forestry Commission manages just over a third of woodland in Scotland. Planting and management of non-Forestry Commission woodland is normally carried out with the assistance of government grants. 55% of Scotland's woodland area is certified as sustainably managed.
New planting of woodland peaked in 1988 and 1989 when over 25,000 hectares of new woodland a year were created. Since then new planting has declined to around 4,000 hectares in 2007-08. In 2008, the area of woodland in Scotland was 17.2% of the total land area, compared with 5.5% in 1924 and 11.7% in 1980.
Source: Forestry Commission18
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