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Scotland's forests to help combat climate change
04/11/2008
A consultation has been launched on the increased role that Scotland's forests can play in the fight against climate change.
The paper - Climate Change and the National Forest Estate in Scotland - outlines proposals that include developing renewable energy projects to help the Scottish Government meet its greener energy targets as well as planting more trees, to increase the area of Scotland covered in woodland by the second half of this century.
Visiting Scottish Woodland's Annandale Estate planting site, Minister for Environment Michael Russell said:
"As part of the Scottish Government's commitment to tackling climate change, we have undertaken to implement a world-leading 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2050. We also want to see 50 per cent of all Scotland's energy produced from renewable sources by 2020. 
"Scotland's forests are one of our greatest natural assets and also hold huge potential for greener energy. This consultation holds the key to unlocking that potential.
"It also holds the key to more investment in industry and more jobs. In the current economic climate, we must do all we can to support the industries that are the lifeblood of the rural economy and rural communities.
"The national forest estate has a crucial contribution to make towards a greener and a wealthier Scotland. Today is a major step towards both and crucially will give local people a real say in how we get there.
"We are looking for creative ideas and solutions to take this forward, so it's important that we hear as many views as possible. This is the first step in developing a new approach to forestry in Scotland."
The consultation invites comments on innovative suggestions including:
- Establishing joint ventures with communities or the private sector to develop renewable sources of energy on the national forest estate
- How best the national forest estate can contribute to achieving a total of 10,000 hectares of new woodland per year - woodland that will lock up 1.2m tonnes of carbon per year by 2050 and also help to create new jobs
- The possible creation of a not for profit Trust that will bring renewed vigour to the task of woodland creation
Comments can be submitted until January 27, 2009.