FORESTRY Commission Scotland (FCS) is piloting a scheme to increase tree cover across the country with the help of the farming community.
FCS proposes to rent land from farmers for a period of around 10 years. At the end of that time, control of the woodland would be handed back to the farmer.
The scheme has been given a cautious welcome by NFU Scotland (NFUS), who remain concerned that the land targeted by the scheme is traditionally used for livestock production.
If the scheme is successful, and develops into a wider project, than the NFUS will be asking the Scottish Government to ensure that agricultural interests are protected.
NFU Scotland’s Head of Rural Policy Jonnie Hall said: “A future where forestry and farming are working together rather than in conflict is the right way forward. This pilot provides a means of determining the demand for such an approach to engaging the industry in significant forestry expansion.
“For those farmers interested in woodland creation, this is an initiative that could take away much of the risk associated with planting trees and leave them, after ten years, with an established woodland. This could help farmers get over their concerns about planting trees on land that has traditionally been use for livestock and generate an income stream that may well exceed that which could be gained from farming the land as before.”
Participating farmers would be able to negotiate rent based on factors such as how much income would be lost and how the land is classified, with land between 3.2 and 5 on the Macaulay System being targeted.
