All the recommendations of a report into forestry in Scotland are to be accepted by the Scottish Executive.
Announcing the news, environment minister Lewis Macdonald said that forestry contributes more than £800m to the economy and can also play an important role in meeting social and environmental objectives.
Outlining the Scottish Executive’s achievements to date, he maintained they have “ensured that the development and delivery of forestry policy are integrated effectively with our wider rural development objectives”.
Mr Macdonald suggested that forestry could play a part in the achievement of the Scottish Executive’s renewable energy targets and highlighted the creation of regional forestry forums and the Strategic Timber Transport Fund.
He also revealed plans to develop social housing on the forest estate through partnership agreements between Forestry Commisson Scotland and local communities.
Mr Macdonald concluded that it must be ensured that public funds invested in the national forest estates should continue to deliver a wide range of public benefits.
