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Woodland Trust Scotland
Ancient woods under threat – petition to the Scottish
Parliament
The Woodland Trust Scotland is currently aware of over 100 woods
under threat from the proposed development of power lines, golf courses,
roads, new housing and open cast mines in Scotland. It is likely that
this is just the tip of the iceberg.
We are appealing to you to help us in our efforts to achieve greater
protection for what is a truly irreplaceable natural heritage asset to
Scotland. Please support our petition, lodged with the Scottish
Parliament, calling for more protection for ancient woodland. The
petition appeals to MSPs to use their powers to urge the Scottish
Executive to give ancient woodland more protection. The wording is as
follows:
Petition by Andrew Fairbairn, on behalf of the Woodland Trust
Scotland, calling for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish
Executive to address the threat to the fragmented remnants of ancient
woodland by fulfilling their commitment under the UK Forest Partnership
for Action, made in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable
Development 2002, to protect the nation’s rarest and richest wildlife
habitat.
To see if there are ancient woods under threat in your area, please
visit our website: www.woodsunderthreat.info or if you know of any woods under
threat please don’t hesitate to get in touch at
woodsunderthreat@woodland-trust.org.uk
Background to the Woodland Trust Scotland's work
Woods are crucial to sustaining life on our planet. They take in carbon
dioxide and release oxygen to us. They enhance the quality of our lives
and environment with their richness and biodiversity, their colours and
landscapes. Well managed woods can support sustainable industries.
The National Assessment: Species lists some 263 species which have
been identified as endangered to some degree, all associated with trees or
woodlands. Many of these species are rare due to the loss of native
woodland cover since Neolithic times.
Scotland is one of Europe’s least wooded countries. Tree cover represents
17% of land area. However, only 4% is native woodland and a paltry 1% is
of ancient origin. 85% of ancient woods are not protected and by their
very definition are irreplaceable and cannot be re-created.
Woodland Trust Scotland's vision
We want to see the creation and maintenance of a diverse sustainable
forest resource of high quality that will contribute to the environmental,
economic and social needs of Scotland throughout the 21st century and
beyond.
Our vision is to rejuvenate Scotland’s landscape by doubling native
woodland cover over the next 50 years, with activity focussed in areas
adjacent to communities or where buffering and expanding of ancient
woodland and other semi-natural habitats can effectively be achieved.
How can we achieve change?
We advocate change in many areas to achieve our vision, and have laid out
our plans in the document “Woodland Challenges for Scotland 2002”.
The issues include:
Links
Woodland challenges for Scotland
Consultation Responses
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