Working with communities

 

'We aim to help improve the quality of life and well-being of people across Scotland'

Working in partnership

Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) is committed to working in partnership with communities and organisations; it is the best way to unlock the potential of Scotland's woodlands and forests.

• Our booklet Working in Partnership(PDF 1.3Mb) sets out this commitment.
• It's supported by private woodland case studies (PDF1.3Mb) and
• case studies from the national forest estate (PDF 2.3Mb). 

The Forestry for People Advisory Panel

The Working in Partnership booklet draws heavily on the work of the Forestry for People Advisory Panel.

The National Forest Land Scheme - helping communities

The National Forest Land Scheme provides a way for communities to acquire national forest land in order to increase public benefits from forestry.

Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT) initiative

The Woods In and Around Towns initiative aims to increase the contribution of woodland to the quality of life in Scotland’s urban and post-industrial areas.  The Woods in and Around Towns pages have more details, including an explanation of why urban woodlands are important, as well as highlighting grants available as part of the initiative.

Evaluation of community partnership working

The Community Woodlands Association, in partnership with FCS and the Community Land Unit of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, commissioned an evaluation to:

• examine the experience of FCS/community partnership working between 1994 and 2005
• assess how it is perceived by both communities and FCS District staff.   

You can download both the executive summary and full report of the evaluation:

•  Executive Summary of the community partnership evaluation (PDF 332K)
•  Evaluation of Community Partnership working - full report (PDF 246k) 

The social and economic contribution of forestry to Scotland

A major research programme to measure the social and economic contribution of forestry to Scotland is currently taking place.  There's more information on the study on the Forest Research website, where you can read the interim report: A Valuation of the Economic and Social Contribution of Forestry for People in Scotland.   The final report is due in March 2008.

Funding for the social aspects of the Scottish Forestry Strategy

There are proposals for funding within theforthcoming Scotland Rural Development Plan (SRDP).  Find out more about the proposed funding within the SRDP for the social aspects of the Scottish Forestry Strategy (PDF 56k).