The number of Forestry Grant Scheme approvals to date this year has already exceeded the total number issued in 2022, as Scottish Forestry continues its drive to improve woodland creation across Scotland.

To date this year, a total of 11,200 hectares of forestry schemes have been given the green light by Scottish Forestry for planting in 2023 with more expected in the coming months.

Of further significance, over half of these approvals - 6,000 hectares - are for native woodland schemes, giving a further boost to the environment. This is the highest level of native woodland planting approved under the current Forestry Grant Scheme.

Welcoming the improvement in approval figures during Scottish Climate Week, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: "Woodland creation is a vital part of the Scottish Government's plans to tackle the climate emergency and to address increased biodiversity. This is very much a partnership between government, the forestry sector, communities, landowners and stakeholders. Each has a role to play and is an integral part of the jigsaw in getting trees in the ground.

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"I'm really pleased that Scottish Forestry is working hard to approve applications as quickly as they can, whilst also ensuring each scheme is rigorously assessed.

"We know we collectively have a way to go to get planting rates higher still but the positive approval numbers show we are heading in the right direction.

"Scottish Forestry has worked tirelessly with landowners, communities and the forestry sector to  prioritise the assessment of these schemes. It is my hope now that landowners turn these approvals into actual trees in the ground.

"All forestry interests will soon be coming together at a forestry summit, which I am delighted to chair, where we will collectively build on the positive figures and develop our plans to further improve on planting rates in Scotland."

Amongst the native woodland approvals are almost 700 hectares which is expected to be delivered through natural regeneration, without the need for planting. This will be made possible by landscape scale deer management supported through the Forestry Grant Scheme.

As the Scottish Government's regulator for forestry, Scottish Forestry undertakes the approvals process for new woodland schemes but the actual responsibility of planting the trees is undertaken by the applicants, which range from landowning interests right across the rural landscape, varying in landscape and background.

In the last five years, Scotland has created 51,000 ha of new woodland, the equivalent of 102 million trees.