Plea for more balance in tree planting on Scottish farms

Scottish farm leaders have issued a plea for more balance to be struck between tree planting and farmland.

NFU Scotland (NFUS) said woodland creation remains a “bone of contention” among its members and many are concerned about land being bought by companies for afforestation on a commercial scale.

The union’s long-standing position favours farm woodlands that integrate into existing farm and croft businesses, including the need to plant the right species in the right place.

See also: Tree planters still outbidding farmers in Scottish uplands

NFUS also remains concerned about commercial scale tree planting on productive land because of the impact on agricultural activity, food production, rural communities, and the potential for land abandonment. 

“We cannot have trees replacing farms and people,” NFUS vice-president Andrew Connon insisted.

“While some purchasers act in the best interest of the local community, we have lobbied all political parties for several years on the growing number of financial institutions, speculators, and business investors with little or no knowledge or interest in the local communities and landscapes buying land.”

Ultimately, this creates chaos as commercial forestry competes with hardwood forests, rewilding interests and agriculture, he added.

More accurate information is also needed on how effective “blanket” tree planting is in sequestering carbon, measuring against a mix of livestock grazing and farm woodlands, Mr Connon said.

“At a time of biodiversity targets and concerns on biodiversity loss, it is also clear that blanket planting of sterile Sitka forests is not the answer to enhancing wildlife,” he added.

Community conflicts

The Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), which represents many large landowners, stressed the need for greater balance between land use for agriculture and for tree planting.

In the case of tree planting and climate change targets, the Scottish government must recognise and address community conflicts where they exist, it said.

Eleanor Kay, SLE senior policy adviser, said the government must ensure Regional Land Use Partnerships are properly resourced and used to provide a forum for the complex discussions of balancing land use for climate, nature, biodiversity and economic recovery.

“Trees have a valuable role in not only sequestering carbon but also increasing flood resilience, including on neighbouring farmland,” she added.

“There are clear standards which must be adhered to when planting trees and whilst it is popular to make reference to ‘sitka forests’ it should be remembered that there is a requirement under UK Forestry Standards that no more than 65% of the area is allocated to a single species.

“Scottish Forestry judges all applications against the UKFS [UK Forestry Standard].

“Tree planting on a smaller scale has been important for many Scottish farms in diversifying their revenue streams and thereby protecting their businesses for the long-term.”

The Scottish government has set an ambitious target of planting 18,000ha of new woodland per year by 2024/25 to help meet net zero targets by 2045.

But funding cuts to Scottish Forestry of £32m or 41% this year have put this figure in doubt.