Forestry and woodlands

Official statistics published last week by NatureScot, Scotland’s nature agency, show that the abundance (number of individuals in a species) and occupancy (number of sites where a species is present) of 2,803 Scotland’s marine and terrestrial species have stabilised at levels similar to the 1990s, well below historic populations.

Join Farmstrong Scotland, a new well-being initiative, for their 12 date 2023 launch tour - “Live well, to Farm and Croft Well” - which kicks off at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingleston on the 30 January and ends on the 16^th February in Stirling.

An agreement to invest £100 million in the future economic prosperity of Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides was signed today (20th January) in Orkney by UK and Scottish Government Ministers and the Council Leaders of the three island groups.

A total of 680 rural businesses with projects that protect the environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change will share more than £14 million this year from the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS).

A  “cutting edge” study published today has put an economic value on Scotland’s woodlands in helping to prevent flooding.

It estimates that the capacity of woodlands to store water and slow down run-off to downstream communities after heavy rain, is worth almost £100 million a year in Scotland.

With the prospect of wetter winters due to the effects of climate change, and more intense rainfall in summer, the ability of trees to reduce flood risk is becoming increasingly important. 

Findings for Scotland from the Small Business Survey 2021.

The Scottish Land Commission is driving a programme of land reform spanning both urban and rural land, to create a Scotland where land is owned and used in ways that are fair, responsible and productive.

Information on the Scottish Government Population Programme published.

The Population Programme is a cross-cutting programme of work which aims to deliver Scotland’s Population Strategy, which articulates a vision for Scotland’s population profile to provide a platform for economic success, prosperity and wellbeing across Scotland’s communities.