Ensure support mechanisms are in place for landowners to restore priority ancient woodlands by 2030, focusing initially on protected/designated woodlands in unfavourable condition.
Objective 1: Accelerate ecosystem restoration and regeneration
Priority Action 2. Introduce a Programme of Ecosystem Restoration
Current policy and delivery mechanisms provide some support for landowners to restore priority ancient woodlands, particularly protected or designated sites in unfavourable condition. However, progress remains insufficient to achieve restoration at the scale needed for nature recovery. Restoration projects are underway and have delivered localised successes, but systemic constraints continue to limit outcomes. High herbivore pressure, particularly from deer and sheep, is preventing natural regeneration in many areas. Ancient woodland fragments remain highly disconnected and many Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) are still degraded with limited funding and no clear pathway to full restoration.
While protection measures are in place, large areas of ancient woodland remain in ongoing decline. In many cases, protection is only slowing degradation rather than enabling recovery. As a result, restoration is incremental and fragmented, rather than contributing to a functioning, connected woodland ecosystem.
The proposed National Register of Ancient Woodland, an SNP manifesto commitment, is due to be developed by NatureScot and expected in 2027 which is a positive step. It has the potential to provide a stronger evidence base to support restoration and expansion.
No. Current efforts are not sufficient to deliver system-wide recovery of ancient woodlands. While the National Register is welcome, its effectiveness will depend on going beyond mapping to include condition assessments and clear restoration pathways. Existing approaches focus on protecting individual sites and delivering selective projects, but do not yet address the ecological needs of the wider woodland network. Without stronger coordination and a shift to landscape-scale restoration, the condition of ancient woodlands is unlikely to improve significantly.
A national, system-wide approach to woodland restoration is needed to achieve meaningful biodiversity outcomes.
This should include:
– Clear, time-bound targets for restoring PAWS sites, including a phased approach (e.g. publicly owned sites restored first, followed by privately owned sites)
– Landscape-scale reduction in herbivore pressure, particularly deer, to enable natural regeneration
– A shift from site-based protection to restoring a connected native woodland network across Scotland
– Integration of woodland recovery with agricultural policy, deer management and land reform
– Long-term, sustained funding to support multi-decade restoration
All ancient woodlands should be brought into active restoration so they can contribute to wider nature recovery goals, including Nature30. Stronger protections are also needed to prevent further loss of ancient woodland, with a clear expectation that these irreplaceable habitats are safeguarded. The Institute of Chartered Foresters are planning to hold an Ancient Woodland conference in Scotland in 2027 to coincide with the launch of the National Register of Ancient Woodland (and build on the success of their Ancient Woodland conference in England in 2025). This should be an opportunity to commend the success of the Scottish Government in supporting the restoration of Ancient Woodlands.
Restoration of ancient woodland is highly dependent on controlling browsing pressure and improving connectivity, but these pressures remain a major barrier at national scale. Deer impacts are identified in official NatureScot and Deer Working Group evidence as a key driver of suppressed woodland regeneration, with current management not yet sufficient to enable widespread recovery of native woodland condition.
Many Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) remain in degraded ecological condition, with restoration constrained by funding, fragmented delivery, and lack of a consistent national prioritisation framework for recovery. While protected sites receive some restoration support, there is limited evidence that this is translating into system-wide improvement in ancient woodland condition or connectivity across the wider landscape. Overall, current measures support localised restoration activity, but there is no evidence yet of large-scale ecological recovery across Scotland’s ancient woodland resource.
Strong ecological gains are achievable if herbivore impacts are reduced at landscape scale, PAWS restoration is prioritised through a national programme, and ancient woodland is treated as a connected ecological network rather than isolated sites.
Mair Trees Please – Woodland Trust Scotland
NatureScot guide to understanding the Scottish Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI)
NatureScot – Managing Scotland’s wild deer
Scottish Government – The management of wild deer in Scotland: Deer Working Group report
Collate, review and prioritise all the landscape scale nature restoration projects across Scotland. Using this spatial evidence, NatureScot will identify and help facilitate partnership projects for six exemplar large scale landscape restoration areas with significant woodland components by 2025. By the end of 2026 those projects will have engaged with communities; developed deliverable action…
Develop the new Register of Ancient Woodlands, to include locational data, a definition of the required ‘protected and restored’ condition of ancient woodlands, and a process for recording ancient woodlands that reach the required standard.
Implement Scotland’s strategic approach for Scotland’s rainforest which aims to improve its condition and health so that it can regenerate and expand whilst providing benefits to communities.
Develop upland-specific, best practice guidance on measures for upland restoration to regenerate peatlands, increase nature woodland cover, manage grazing, protect certain target species and priority habitats and increase habitat heterogeneity.
Develop a national peatland monitoring framework that incorporates on-site and remotely sensed assessments of biodiversity indicators, climate resilience and associated functions within the wider landscape, hydrological and ecological network contexts.
Transition 4 of the pilot RLUPs (Cairngorms National Park, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and South of Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders Councils, NorthWest 2045 Region (Highlands Council)) to formal initiatives as we seek to continue to develop our understanding of how partnership work can help to optimise land use in a fair and inclusive way meeting local and…
Following consultation in 2023, continue ongoing work towards implementing a ban on the sale of horticultural peat in Scotland.
Publish a plan for marine and coastal ecosystem restoration, including identifying actions to help prioritise habitats and locations suitable for restoration.
Deliver additional protection for spawning and juvenile congregation areas where needed, and for species with are integral components of the marine food web.
Develop new approaches to marine biodiversity monitoring, covering both state and pressure assessment and aligned with the UK Marine Strategy.
Develop a Blue Carbon Action Plan to identify where the Scottish Government can most effectively address evidence gaps and progress actions to support the protection, restoration, and enhancement of blue carbon habitats.
The RBMPs aims and objectives for the 2021-27 period, and the associated programme of measures aim to ensure that 81% of all Scotland’s waterbodies (rivers, lochs, groundwater, transitional (estuary/ firth) and coastal waters) achieve a ‘good’ or better classification by 2027 and continue to improve as natural conditions recover beyond that date.
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