Identify where woodland can have the most benefit for water resource management using an evidence-based approach and implement through a range of mechanisms including forestry grants and private restoration initiatives.
Objective 4: Protect and support the recovery of vulnerable and important species and habitats
Priority Action 19. Ensure that forests and woodlands deliver increased biodiversity and habitat connectivity alongside timber and carbon outcomes.
There is no publicly published Scottish Government or NatureScot delivery report confirming a completed national mapping or implementation framework that identifies priority woodland locations specifically for water resource management under this action.
Existing evidence shows that woodland creation for natural flood management and water quality benefits is supported through Scottish Forestry and SEPA-aligned catchment approaches, and these are already used to guide some Forestry Grant Scheme applications. However, there is no single published Scotland-wide dataset or formalised programme confirming systematic identification of all priority areas for water resource optimisation linked to woodland expansion.
Delivery therefore appears to be partially embedded in existing catchment-based forestry planning, rather than evidenced as a standalone implemented national prioritisation system.
Evidence from SEPA and Scottish Forestry shows that woodland can improve water resource outcomes through mechanisms such as reducing flood peaks, improving water quality, and slowing surface runoff, particularly when located in upper catchments and riparian zones. These benefits are well established in Scottish natural flood management policy and guidance. However, ecological effectiveness depends on targeted spatial planning and implementation, not just general woodland expansion. While catchment-based approaches exist in Scotland, there is no published evidence that a comprehensive evidence-based national mapping exercise has been completed and directly linked to grant targeting or private restoration at scale under this specific action.
As a result, the ecological contribution remains theoretically strong but only partially operationalised, with benefits dependent on localised application rather than system-wide implementation.
SEPA – Natural Flood Management Handbook
Scottish Forestry – Managing water
NatureScot – Managing Freshwater
Scottish Government – National Planning Framework 4: Policy 22 (flood risk and water management) – Chief Planner letter – October 2025
Meet annual woodland creation target as set in the Scottish Government Climate Change Plans currently 18,000 hectares of new woodland annually (including 4000ha of native woodland).
Update woodland management guidance and plans including those for restocking from 2025 onwards to reflect greater emphasis on actions that will improve biodiversity.
Deliver key research and data analysis project (building on WEC) on improving understanding of biodiversity associated with our woodland types, to guide management requirements and maintain biodiversity in the face of climate change impacts.
Increase biodiversity across all woodlands by increasing the characteristics that improve woodland condition as identified by the Woodland Ecological Condition (WEC) National Statistic, initially by developing a tool based on WEC to allow site ecological condition assessment to be made by 2030.
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