Hectares of forestry used for wind farms: EIR release

Information requested

Given that an estimated total 15.7 million trees, which could equate to around 9,800 hectares of forestry, have been felled since 2000 to make way for windfarms, I would be grateful if you could confirm the following:

a. Exactly how many hectares of forestry have been felled/cleared to make way for windfarms?
b. Of the above hectares how many have been re-planted as a result of having been under the woodland/forestry planting scheme?
c.  Where geographically has the forestry been felled/cleared?
d. Has all woodland that has been cleared/felled for windfarms been replanted in the same geographical region?
e. As a percentage (soft leaf/broadleaf and conifer/hardwood) what has been felled and what has been replaced?
f. How many trees were felled in each year from 2000 to the current date and in what years where they replaced?

Response

We have treated your request for information under the Environmental Information Scotland Regulations 2004 (EIR).

Our response to your request is in relation to land managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS); an Agency of the Scottish Government. It is important to note that there may be land owned privately which may have wind farm developments on it. To some of your questions I have applied an exception under section 10(4)(a) of the EIR’s as we do not hold the requested information: this is because the relevant planning authorities place development conditions such as compensatory planting on the developers and not the landowner, this is not something which FLS has the authority to stipulate.

a. Exactly how many hectares of forestry have been felled/cleared to make way for windfarms? 8,503 hectares since the year 2000 related windfarm development. It is important to also note that the majority of this figure is commercial forestry, which would have been felled at the end of the rotation.

b. Of the above hectares how many have been re-planted as a result of having been under the woodland/forestry planting scheme? FLS is not responsible for compensatory planting as a result of windfarm felling. This is a matter between the planning authority and the developer.

c. Where geographically has the forestry been felled/cleared? There are currently 24 windfarms in operation on FLS managed land with 3 currently in construction. Full details can be found on our website using the following link: Renewables - Forestry and Land Scotland

d.  Has all woodland that has been cleared/felled for windfarms been replanted in the same geographical region? No data held by FLS. This is a planning condition on the developer set by planning authority.

e.  As a percentage (soft leaf/broadleaf and conifer/hardwood) what has been felled and what has been replaced? No data held by FLS. This is a planning condition on the developer set by planning authority.

f. How many trees were felled in each year from 2000 to the current date and in what years where they replaced? No data held by FLS – FLS has no business requirement to hold data in terms of year on year figures.

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