Conservation charity says nature and forestry cuts should be reversed following Budget funding increase

A conservation charity has called for cuts to nature and forestry services to be reversed when the Scottish Government gets an extra £3.4bn in funding following the Westminster Budget.

The Scottish Government will receive a £47.7bn provision in the next financial year, with Woodland Trust Scotland (WTS) saying a portion should be dedicated to restoring funding cut from the forestry sector.

In December 2023, the Scottish Government announced a £32m – or 41% – reduction in the money available to the Forestry Grant Scheme which is responsible for forestry activity across the commercial timber and nature conservation.

This was followed in August by the Scottish Government cutting £5m from the 2023 Nature Recovery Fund.

WTS director Alastair Seaman said: “We are facing a climate emergency and a nature crisis.

“These cuts were a double whammy against our country’s fightback on both fronts.

“This week’s UK Budget means the Scottish Government is going to have a £3.4bn increase in funds available.

“We are calling for a tiny proportion of that to be used to reverse the cuts to nature recovery and woodland creation.

Forestry blocks in Aberdeenshire (Alamy/PA) PA Media

“The Scottish Government recognises we need more trees and sets ambitious woodland creation targets, yet slashing £32m from the public money that drives the forestry sector scuppers any chance of meeting those targets.”

He said the country’s net zero target cannot be achieved without some of the C02 currently in the atmosphere being absorbed, which woodland areas can help do.

Mr Seaman added: “The Forestry Grant Scheme is pivotal in driving the woodland creation the government says it wants, as well as maintenance of existing woods.

“Net zero will only be possible if we ramp up the nation’s tree cover.

“We are already failing to create more woodland fast enough.

“The uplift following this week’s Budget offers the Scottish Government an opportunity to get things back on track. We are calling on them to take it.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As the finance secretary Shona Robison set out this week, the UK budget is a step in the right direction, but still leaves enormous cost pressures and there will need to be continued investment over the coming years to reset and reform public services.

“The finance secretary emphasised that additional funding for this financial year has already been factored into spending plans and we will continue to assess the full implications of the UK Government’s budget ahead of the Scottish Budget on December 4.”