South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle has challenged the Scottish Government over how it funds forestry projects in Scotland. The Scottish Conservative MSP raised the issue at Holyrood with First Minister Humza Yousaf after an academic report was published suggesting that public funding is going to forestry projects which end up harming the environment.
The report points out that some tree planting projects include drainage and other works which can end up drying out peatlands or increasing the acidity of local waterways, both of which can harm local wildlife. Dried out peatlands can also lead to large amounts of carbon dioxide held within the peat being released into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.
Speaking in Holyrood, Brian called for the Scottish Government to re-examine its guidance for tree planting in areas with peat and consider changing the rules to put stricter limits on how deep peat has to be in the ground before trees can be planted on it. The MSP has also previously challenged the government over the need to plant a more diverse range of tree species and achieve a better balance between fast growing trees like Sitka Spruce, which are grown mainly to provide timber, and slower growing native species.
Following First Minister’s Questions, Brian Whittle MSP said:
“Forestry is a massively important industry for Scotland and it’s one that also has a big role to play in protecting our environment and fighting climate change.
While the majority of forestry projects are delivered to a good standard and give a lot of thought to their environmental impact, there are still issues about how we protect peatland, which is one of the most important natural means of keeping carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
I want to see Scotland’s forestry industry flourish and do so while helping to restore and protect our natural environment. That must start with a commitment by the Scottish Government to only fund projects planting the right kinds of tree, in the right place.”
