Forestry and woodlands

The Scottish Rural Network will be supporting Scottish Government Just Transition policy colleagues to engage directly with rural and island communities this summer.

A series of community workshops will be undertaken in July and August to engage directly with rural and island communities across Scotland, which will help shape and inform our approach to the Land Use and Agriculture Just Transition.

Agricultural support in Scotland is changing. From 2025, new conditionality will start to be introduced to agricultural payments, targeted towards biodiversity gain and a drive to low carbon approaches.

To help support farmers, crofter and land managers, Scottish Government have produced a range of information sheets to help farmers and crofters prepare for these changes, to identify recommendations that can lower emissions and increase efficiencies.

The widespread effects of the virus on seabirds and wildfowl in Scotland and throughout the U.K. have been well documented, but the effect on birds of prey is less well known.

A forest for the future, designed to help in the fight against climate change, a young farmer mixing trees and pigs, and a community woodland in a country park were all honoured at the Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2023.

In response to the independent Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) Taskforce report, the Scottish Government is proposing to bring forward provisions to allow for a limited extension of the Scottish SPCA’s current powers to investigate wildlife crime.

A herbicide previously used to control bracken on farms in Scotland, will not be authorised for use this season because of the risks it poses to the environment and human health. The same decision has been taken in Wales.