The first phase of the most comprehensive survey ever undertaken of Scotland's native woods and forests is under way.
Surveyors from Forestry Commission Scotland and Forest Research will spend the next few years scouring brae, glen, moor, field and town to discover exactly how much native woodland Scotland has, what types of native woods they are, what condition they are in, where they are, and a range of other information.
But first, pilot surveys are being undertaken in four areas over the next nine months to enable the researchers to test their methods and refine their survey techniques to ensure that when they begin the main project they gather the correct information in the most appropriate way for end users' needs.
The results of the pilot surveys will also be used to demonstrate the benefits and value of the survey to a wider audience.
The four areas being surveyed in the pilot survey are in Ettrick & Lauderdale in the Borders, the Clyde Valley, Wester Ross and Strathspey & Badenoch.
Leading the work will be project manager Dr Zoe Laird, who is based in Forestry Commission Scotland's national office in Edinburgh.
Dr Laird encouraged woodland owners and managers to help the surveyors, because the survey results will be useful to them as well as to scientists, foresters and policy makers:
"The survey will be valuable to woodland owners and managers by providing them with information that will help them with management planning. It should also help Forestry Commission Scotland and other government bodies to target their support for woodland owners as effectively as possible. I therefore encourage owners to offer any help they can to the survey staff.
"Scotland has only a tiny fraction left, perhaps only 2 per cent, of the once-vast expanse of original native forest that covered more than half the land thousands of years ago. Over the past 20 years we have made good progress in protecting these precious fragments, and also in adding new native woodland to our landscape.
"However, in order to progress and evaluate the effectiveness of our policies for protecting and expanding native woods and forests, we need to establish a sound baseline of information, and this survey will go a long way to filling the gaps in our information.
"Protecting and expanding our native woodland is important for Scotland, not just because of its nature conservation and heritage value, but for sound economic reasons as well. There is widespread public enthusiasm for more native woodland in the landscape. Our forests and woods are becoming increasingly significant players in key industries such as green tourism and recreation. Activities such as wildlife watching, mountain biking, horse riding, forest holidays and many others are growing significantly and providing new jobs and business opportunities in many small and often fragile rural communities, and native woodlands are very attractive places to enjoy these activities.
"We are also keen to grow the market for, and the supply of, sustainably produced native timbers, some of which are excellent alternatives to imported timbers. The information we gather from the survey will be invaluable in informing those efforts as well."
The pilot survey work is being conducted with support from Scottish Natural Heritage, the Royal Commission for Ancient & Historic Monuments, and other memebrs of the Native Woodland Partnership for Scotland.
Further information about the survey is available from Dr Zoe Laird, Forestry Commission Scotland, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh E12 7AT; e-mail: zoe.laird@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
NOTES TO EDITOR:
- Zoe Laird holds a PhD degree in sustainable development from Strathclyde University, an MSc in environmental pollution control management from Heriot-Watt University, and a BSc in mathematics and physics from Manchester University. She previously led an environmental services research team in local government for four years, and spent five years managing sustainable communities projects for Forward Scotland.
- Native woods and forests are those comprising species of trees and plants that established themselves in Scotland without human help. Well known tree species native to Scotland include Scots pine, pedunculate and sessile oak, wych elm, downy and silver birch, ash, alder, aspen, rowan, juniper and yew. There are estimated to be between 350,000 and 480,000 hectares of native woodland in Scotland, or between 26 and 35 per cent of Scotland's total woodland area. This includes remnants of ancient woodlands, and woodlands comprising native species that have been planted more recently by humans. The survey will greatly improve the quality of information about this woodland.
- Forestry Commission Scotland is part of the Forestry Commission, and serves as the Scottish Executive's forestry department. It manages 666,000 hectares of national forest lands owned by Scottish Ministers for multiple benefits, including nature conservation, public recreation, timber production, and rural and community development; supports other woodland owners with grants, felling licences, advice and regulation; promotes the benefits of forests and forestry; and advises Ministers on forestry policy.
- Forest Research is an agency of the Forestry Commission that undertakes scientific research and technical development relevant to forestry.
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