Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the forestry directorate of the Scottish Government, working to improve the lives of people in Scotland through the benefits that woods and forests can provide.
We are guided by the Scottish Government's Scottish Forestry Strategy, which sets out the vision for forestry.
Consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill
On 4 November 2008, Minister for Environment, Michael Russell, launched a consultation paper that outlines proposals to:
- Develop renewable energy projects to help the Scottish Government meet its ambitious greener energy targets.
- Plant more trees as part of plans to increase the area of Scotland covered in woodland by the second half of this century.
Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has been asked to work up options for making better use of the national forest estate in the fight against climate change, while safeguarding the important public benefits that the estate generates for communities throughout Scotland.
The consultation paper relates to legal provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill that may be needed to help with the way forward, such as the potential to give Ministers the power to modify certain functions of Forestry Commission Scotland, allowing FCS to undertake new and innovative activities to help tackle climate change more effectively.
We are keen to hear from as many people as possible who have an interest in this area and wish to share their ideas on how these proposals could work.
The consultation document is available at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fcsclimateconsultation. The deadline for responses is 27th January 2009.
Grants
New forestry grants have been introduced as part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) for 2007-2013.
Annual report and corporate plan
View Forestry Commission Scotland's most recent Annual Report and current Corporate Plan.
The National Forest Land Scheme
Forestry Commission Scotland sells or leases relatively small areas of national forest land to communities and others to deliver increased public benefit from the national forest estate. Read more about the National Forest Land Scheme.
Things to see and do in Scotland's woods and forests
Details of places to go, activities and events.