SRDP FORESTRY WORKING GROUP Woodland Expansion Advisory Group 22 May 2012

Land Use Strategy Proposal 7 Identify more closely which types of land are best for tree planting in the context of other land-based objectives, and promote good practice and local processes in relation to tree planting so as to secure multiple benefits.

WEAG Membership Dr Andrew Barbour: Chair. Woodland adviser to Atholl Estates George McRobbie: UPM Tilhill Angus Mccall: Scottish Tenant Farmers’ Association Dr Andrew Midgley: Scottish Land and Estates Nigel Miller: NFU Scotland Jonnie Hall: NFU Scotland George Milne: National Sheep Association David Barnes: Scottish Government Rural and Environment Directorate Professor Jeff Maxwell: Ex-Director of Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Bob McIntosh: Director, Forestry Commission Scotland Susan Davies: Scottish Natural Heritage Jo O’Hara: Scottish Government Rural and Environment Directorate Hamish Macleod: Director BSW and Chair of FC Scotland’s National Committee Mark Aitken: Scottish Environmental Protection Agency Stuart Goodall: Confor Vicki Swales: RSPB Scotland Simon Pepper: SNH Board member and former director WWF Ian Ross: former Highland Council Chair of Highland Council Planning, Environment and Development Committee Bill Ritchie: Scottish Crofting Federation

WEAG work programme Commissioned analyses of land availability by James Hutton Institute and Forest Research Consultation exercise and public meetings in Dumfries, Oban, Inverness, Huntly, Perth and Newtown St Boswells Reporting to Cabinet Secretary at Highland Show Working papers online at

Land analysis: Phase 1 Biophysically unsuitable Already woodland Prime agricultural land Deep peat In total 46% of Scotland ruled out in first phase of study.

Land analysis: Phase 2 Nature conservation and landscape designations (orange) A further 20% of Scotland is shown to be significantly constrained in second phase of study.

Land analysis: Phase 3 About one third of Scotland has, in theory, potential for woodland establishment… …but lots of ‘buts’! Rough grazing (blue) Improved grassland (purple) Mixed agriculture (green)

Phase 3 Land Stocking Rate Analysis SG/JHI analysis, based on Census data etc less than 2 per cent of Scotland’s total livestock units would be displaced or lost from production through planting 100,000 hectares of improved/rough grazing on Phase 3 land over the next ten years. impact on livestock production could be reduced through careful choice of land for planting and effective integration with agricultural operations.

Some issues from WEAG consultation Deciding, strategically, where there are opportunities for woodland creation (reflecting, eg, socio-economic as well as environmental impacts) Integrating woodland creation with other land use objectives (including opportunities for agroforestry) Grants/SRDP Making the most of existing woodlands Providing advice and support for woodland creation

Advice and support Calls for better integration between the agricultural and forestry sectors in Scotland. Strong views were expressed about farmers not having the necessary skills or knowledge to engage in forestry. Proposed solutions included more sharing of knowledge and education between farming and forestry, so that (eg) farmers would have the skills to establish and manage woodlands themselves. Also suggested that farm advisers have a key role to play in encouraging farmers to manage their existing woodlands and to consider opportunities for creating new woodlands.

SRDP/grants need to avoid hiatus between SRDP1 & SRDP2 too bureaucratic, complex, and uncertain mismatch between incentives and policy objectives importance of facilitators/advisers (eg to encourage collaborative proposals between neighbours) ‘Applicant’s Charter’ financial risk of failure/reclaim a major deterrent compensation for agricultural income foregone