Confor backs plan to build resilience in Scotland’s forests

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon has said “doing nothing is not an option” when it comes to securing the future of Scotland’s forests from the effects of climate change.

With recent examples of violent storms, increasing temperatures, droughts, wildfires and more tree pests and diseases, a new ‘routemap’  has been published by Scottish Forestry which will provide the direction needed for building resilient forests.  

The routemap, the first of its kind in the UK, outlines a number of key actions to help the nation’s woodlands resist, adapt, respond and recover from the various current climate related threats.

The resilience actions cover both immediate and long-term priorities over the next 10 years.

Ms Gougeon said: “Over the past few years we have had plenty of evidence that the global effects of climate change are increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.

“In Scotland we are seeing hotter drier summers, warmer wetter winters and vicious storms with damaging winds.  We need to future proof our forest and woodlands against this.

“Doing nothing is not an option and I am pleased that much work has already taken place to counter this and make our forests more resilient.  But we can and must do more.

“The routemap published today provides a strategic and comprehensive action plan with clear work to be undertaken to boost our forests for the future.”