The measures are designed to provide more stability and simplicity for the forestry and farming sectors and signal the approach Scottish ministers want to take to future rural policy.
The initiatives will involve expert input from relevant stakeholders.
Announcing the two initiatives during a debate in the Scottish Parliament on Future Rural Policy and Support in Scotland today, Mr Ewing said:
“We may not have the certainty nor clarity we need about what our future holds. Yet, I am determined to ensure that we make the future happen and the plan I have developed for the next five years seeks to provide as much stability as we can provide, particularly for forestry which is a long term investment.
“Beyond 2021, we will maintain the current landscape of schemes, including the forestry grant scheme, but with changes to simplify them. Already opportunities have been identified to streamline processes and improve them.
“So I have announced two new initiatives today to review the current process for forestry grant applications in order to streamline and simplify them and also to review the Forestry Grant Scheme to enable more small landowners more access to support to plant trees and create woodland.
“Forestry is a key contributor to Scotland’s rural economy and I want that to continue. I stress that this review will not consider any decision on the current level of financial support, and I look forward to working closely with the forestry sector throughout 2019 so that it can continue to contribute to our shared national endeavour of planting more trees and creating more woodlands and forests in Scotland.”
