“Climate of confidence” needed after disappointing planting figures in Scotland

Richard Hunter, National Manager (Scotland) for forestry and wood trade body Confor, spoke out after new figures showed planting was significantly down in Scotland - from 15,040 hectares in 2023/24 to just 8,470 hectares in 2024/25.

Despite small increases in planting in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, overall woodland creation in the UK fell from 20,660 hectares in 2023-24 to 15,690 hectares in 2024-25. 

Mr Hunter said: “The planting figures for Scotland highlight the pressures and barriers that new woodland creation faces. With the political ambition to achieve 18,000 hectares, the disappointing 8,470 hectares is a clear sign that we need greater partnership working to deliver more trees planted. 

“The conifer planting figure of 4,550 hectares (down from 8720 in 2023/24) is a real concern for future timber production, and is the lowest figure since 2018. We cannot, and must not, allow this to become the norm because current timber forecasts are currently showing an alarming downward trend.

“We need to continue to advocate the benefits that productive forestry brings to Scotland and its people. It brings jobs and investment to rural economies and supports more climate-friendly construction. Economic and environmental policy across the UK, including Scotland, requires more productive planting, but we’re simply not doing enough of it.”

Confor CEO Stuart Goodall said the sharp fall in planting in Scotland was down to a combination of factors - in particular reduced funding for woodland creation, as well as the loss of access to carbon units and approval delays for larger, mainly productive projects.

He said: “We saw 15,000 hectares planted in 2023/24, but there was only funding available in 2024/25 to plant 9000 hectares - so the levels of ambition and confidence are adjusted as a result. We need to raise that ambition - and confidence - by explaining more clearly the very significant economic, environmental and social benefits of planting trees. These evidence-based benefits are often downplayed and drowned out by noisy and sometimes ill-informed criticism of large planting schemes.”

Mr Goodall said Confor was addressing these challenges by pressing for multi-annual funding commitments to give more long-term certainty - and for greater clarity over the formal application process, and clear timetables for decision-making on large woodland creation schemes.

He added: “We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and its agencies - and all other stakeholders - to address these issues. If we take swift action on these points, we can deliver the climate of confidence the industry needs to bring forward more high-quality productive planting schemes - which will in turn deliver long-term economic, environmental and social benefits for rural communities across Scotland.”