RSFS Responds to the draft Scotland's Forestry Strategy

RSFS President James Hepburne Scott summarised the Society's response to the consultation:

“Of course, we agree with the vision. But there is nothing new here. All these components are already in place. The strategy requires a more critical assessment of progress achieved, and not achieved, under the 2006 strategy. Achieving the vision will require commitment to the objectives over the timescale of forestry, a willingness to tackle the barriers to delivery, make decisions which recognise where change is necessary, and reallocate resources.”

Winter edition Scottish Forestry 2018

Santa is making an early delivery this week as the winter edition of Scottish Forestry drops through your letter boxes.

Ho Ho Ho!

Santa Hepburne Scott

Scottish Government’s commitment to forestry welcomed

The contribution of forestry to the Scottish economy is recognised in the Scottish Government’s programme for 18/19 published on 4th September.

James Hepburne Scott, President RSFS commented:

“This is an important commitment from the Scottish Government which will give some welcome stability to the forestry sector. It also sets forth a vision and ambition for the future. The RSFS will be happy to work with the Scottish Government in the development of the new National Forestry Strategy and to support the new arrangements for forestry as they move to implementation.”

The Programme for Government is available on the Scottish Government website here Programme for Government 18-19

Woodland reflections in the Autumn 2018 edition of ”Scottish Forestry”

Members and subscribers will be picking up the latest copy of Scottish Forestry, the Journal of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society. A reflective image on the cover, “Letter from Home” by Peter Bowsher, picks up the historical theme of many articles in this edition.

Pearls of Wisdom

There’s more to forestry than trees. The Royal Scottish Forestry Society publishes a range of papers in its journal Scottish Forestry. The Neil Findlay Trophy is presented for the best paper which is “not a detailed account of conventional forest management, protection or research, but portrays wider perspectives of people’s involvement with trees, woodland and the environment”.

The 2017 winner is a paper entitled “Forest management and freshwater pearl mussels.” It was written by ecologists and freshwater mussel experts Dr Peter Cosgrove, Donald Shields and Cameron Cosgrove from Alba Ecology Ltd jointly with Forest Enterprise Scotland managers and ecologists, Neil McInnes, Suzanne Dolby, Derry Gunn and Kenny Kortland. A copy of the paper is available here.

Pine pest article wins trophy

A multidisciplinary team of four scientists from Forest Research have been presented with an award for their work by the Royal Scottish Forestry Society. Their work was published as a paper in the Autumn 2017 edition of the Society’s journal Scottish Forestry. Entitled “Pine-tree lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini) in Scotland: Discovery, timber movement controls and assessment of risk” it charts the development of this pest of pine trees since its discovery in Scotland in 2009. The paper brings together the work of Dr Roger Moore, an entomologist, Dr Joan Cottrell, a geneticist, Dr Stuart A’Hara, a genetic conservation specialist and Duncan Ray, a climate change/spatial ecologist.

RSFS recognises forestry student of the year

Murray Harper receiving prize from Rob Pimm RSFS Northern Region Chair

At the Inverness UHI Student Awards Ceremony 2018 held on 21st June, Scottish School of Forestry student Murray Harper from near Oban was named as Top Student Forestry Further Education 2018. Murray is shown here with Chris O'Neill, Principal Inverness College UHI and Rod Pimm, RSFS North Region Chair. He was presented with a certificate and £100 prize money, sponsored by the Royal Scottish Forestry Society (RSFS).

RSFS welcomes new Plant Health Centre for Scotland

RSFS is delighted to lend its support to the new Plant Health Centre for Scotland. Chris Allan, board member of RSFS, was one fo the delegates at the launch event at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh on 22 May 18. Reflecting on the day...

Forestry on the up says Ewing

With an increase of funding resulting in more woodland creation, buoyant timber prices and a strong demand for wood, Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing says...

Scottish Forestry 72(1) published

The latest edition of Scottish Forestry is expected to reach members and subscribers at the begining of May 2018.

Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill

The Bill passed through Stage 3 in Holyrood on 20 March with unanimous support from MSPs. However the critical amendment for the forestry sector, introduced by Claudia Beamish MSP, was carried by 63 votes to 61.

The Scottish Government (SG) proposal was that the Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES) should become a new agency called Forestry and Land Scotland. Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) with responsibility for policy, regulation, grants and licenses would become a new SG division within the Environment and Forestry Directorate.

Forestry in Scotland statement published

A statement – Forestry in Scotland- which outlines how Scottish Ministers will manage and administer their forestry responsibilities when devolution of forestry is completed to Scotland, was published by the Scottish Government on 5 Febuary 2018.