Challenges Faced by South Scotland Conservancy in Tree Planting Initiatives

Scottish Forestry South Scotland Conservancy Doug Howieson Conservator

Forestry & the Uplands designing for priority species and habitats Thank you to Julia and Pip these events are hugely important so that we can all work together for the best results It is vital that we capture and work with your concerns, ideas and input

T_ _ _ s Trees C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ s Complaints D _ _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ n Dynamic Tension (in land use and balance)

South Scotland Conservancy How could there possibly be any tension about tree planting? Protecting Scotland's Future: the Government's Programme for Scotland 2019-2020 Scotland is facing a climate emergency. Like the rest of the world, we must act to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change on our people and our planet . Adopting a net zero emissions target by 2045 underlines our ambition that Scotland will no longer contribute to global climate change Woodland and forestry creation In the coming year (and increasingly beyond), we will raise our ambition and commit to planting 12,000 hectares. This will be supported by an additional 5 million investment UNCCC COP 26 in Scotland in November tree planting achievements in Scotland is a key anchor I d like to thank everyone here for helping us to achieve this.

South Scotland Conservancy But I ll go back to the last question how could there be any tension (complaints) about tree planting? 1. We get complaints from farmers and the agricultural sector who are worried about the loss of hill farming, jobs and productive ground they generally only want us to plant on the poorer land up the hill which is no good for cultivation, cattle, crop production or high quality food production they want us to plant the type of land where we might find waders and black grouse for example. 2. We get complaints from communities who don t want their views ruined, or their quite enjoyment of the countryside spoiled. They want us to plant on the poorer upland land away from their views. 3. We get complaints from environmentalist who are worried about nature and designated sites, favoured and particular species and habitats ( not condoning some of the things that we have done in the past by the way). 4. We get complaints from ornithologists and campaign groups who are worried about bird species - nesting sites and breeding, predation from woodland edge and loss of habitat. 5. We get complaints from MP s, MSP s, local authority councillors and council highway department and individuals about tree felling and tree planting in relation to timber wagons and road use. 6. We get complaints from other government agencies and NGO s about water acidification caused by woods and forests. 7. We get complaints / worries from sawmillers and the timber sector as they are concerned about future timber supplies and the loss of productive crops to other species and open habitat. 8. We get complaints and there is tension about designated landscapes including possible new national parks.

South Scotland Conservancy However, on every occasion where there is dynamic tension, people have been right to brings their concerns to our attention and there is no doubt that we have done things badly in the past, even if at the time we were successful in what was being asked of us. So how are we going to achieve our woodland creation targets in a way that collaborates and reduces concern? Here are some key documents

South Scotland Conservancy These documents (and a range of others): Set out the minimum standards of acceptable sustainable forest management Guide woodland creation applicants toward a refreshed methodology (that we call due diligence) to ensure that we capture and mitigate the views and concerns from stakeholders and consultees. John and Jenny Mulgrew will give an excellent example of making this work in practice. Develop a mechanism for accelerating the production of grant awards in line with expectations of our cabinet secretary. We call this taking a outcomes based approach.

South Scotland Conservancy But let me just finish on this point: Looking at the table below, certain things spring to mind A) Wading bird decline simply cannot just be about woodland creation - what else is going on? B) Once we have stripped out all of the areas that we can t and shouldn t plant, there is still plenty of room for us all to get what we want out of the land and to protect valuable species and habitats at the same time C) The relationships that we are building at events like this today, will help to continue to build trust and respect for the concerns, needs and aspirations of others while thinking about the climate emergency. LCA 6.1-7 FWS 000 ha pre /pot 236.00 253.00 D&G 41.00 59.00 E A 119.00 170.00 SB 37.00 55.00 S A 5k ha / yr = 1.15% of LCA 6.1-7 434.00 537.00 Cons