On Tuesday 6 October, the Institute of Chartered Foresters will join colleagues from Confor and Woodland Trust Scotland in a meeting with Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, to discuss the Scottish Government’s proposals for public body reform and the potential future of Scottish Forestry.
Ahead of the meeting, ICF sought the views of members from across forestry, arboriculture, academia, consultancy, investment and the public sector, with the results providing a clear picture of professional opinion.
Among the 93 responses received, 86% of respondents opposed the proposed amalgamation of Scottish Forestry with other environmental agencies, while 95% said Scotland should retain a dedicated forestry body with specialist forestry expertise. Respondents expressed particular concerns about the potential loss of forestry expertise, reduced focus on productive forestry, impacts on woodland creation targets, investor confidence and rural employment.
At the same time, members made clear that they are not simply advocating for the status quo. Many called for reform of Scottish Forestry, including improved performance, faster decision-making, stronger cross-agency working and greater use of shared services where these could improve efficiency and delivery.
The survey also highlighted a strong belief that forestry should continue to be recognised as a distinct profession and land use, delivering economic, environmental and social benefits for Scotland, including climate mitigation, biodiversity enhancement, timber production and support for rural communities.
ICF will present the survey findings at the meeting and work alongside sector partners to ensure that the views of forestry professionals are fully reflected as discussions on the future governance of Scotland’s forestry sector continue.
