Small areas of woodland on farms and crofts will soon attract funding supporting sustainable agriculture under planned changes to legislation.
From November, small woodlands approved under the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) since 2015, can be utilised as Ecological Focus Areas to support farmers’ Greening payments.
The move will encourage farmers, crofters and land managers to increase tree planting, providing environmental benefits including tackling climate change and nature loss.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said:
“Forestry in Scotland is a real success story and this legislative change will mean that tree planting in small areas becomes an attractive option for farmers and crofters.
“This move continues the strong progress towards achieving our tree planting targets by working closely with farmers, forest industries and landowners of all sizes.
“I would encourage stakeholders to explore the multiple benefits of integrating trees into their farm business.”
NFU Scotland has welcomed the announcement from Scottish Government that some small areas of woodland created on farms and crofts will soon be eligible for inclusion in support claims following planned changes to legislation.
From November, small woodlands approved under the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) since 2015, can be utilised as Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) to support farmers’ Greening payments. Claims can be made from the 2023 claim year. In meetings with Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries Mairi Gougeon MSP and Mairi McAllan MSP at the end of 2022, NFU Scotland had asked for this change to be considered, recognising the valuable contribution that woodlands can make to farms and crofts. The Union has since worked with Scottish Government and Scottish Forestry officials on how changes to legislation could be introduced.
NFU Scotland Director of Policy Jonnie Hall said: “NFU Scotland has always encouraged responsible planting that sees the right tree in the right place, potentially adding biodiversity, livestock shelter, amenity value and an alternative income to a farm or croft.
“Having woodland planting carried out under the SRDP since 2015 eligible as EFA under their Greening options for support is a significant lobbying success for NFUS and will be welcomed by many members.”
Background
Claims can be made from the 2023 claim year and areas planted since 1 January 2015 are eligible to be claimed from 2023.
Scotland’s forests and woodlands cover around 1.45 million hectares, which is 19 per cent of the country’s land area. These forests are home to 172 protected species, generate £1 billion to the economy each year and support 25,000 jobs.
The necessary legislative amendment is subject to Parliamentary approval.
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