In a new report released today, Scottish Environment LINK members have called on the Scottish government to do more to encourage and support natural woodland regeneration and colonisation by rebalancing how it funds and supports forestry.
Natural regeneration is the establishment of young trees within an existing woodland by natural means, while natural colonisation is the establishment of young trees on open ground, creating new woodlands.
The report argues that better support for natural woodland regeneration and colonisation would help Scotland meet its net zero targets, adapt to climate change and restore biodiversity.
While planting trees is the right solution in many places, says the report, more natural regeneration and colonisation could provide a cost-effective route to create ecologically-rich and long-term natural carbon stores. It could also make existing woodlands more resilient and enhance water quality and natural flood management.
The authors of the report recommend that the Scottish government shifts the balance of funding for forestry towards supporting natural regeneration, with 50% of funding ringfenced for native woodland creation and management.
They also recommend encouraging the uptake of natural regeneration and colonisation among land managers by supporting management costs, and supporting them to keep deer numbers at a level low enough to allow natural regeneration and colonisation to take place.
The report, ‘The case for natural regeneration of woodlands,’ was written by Gordon Gray Stephens of the Native Woods Cooperative (Scotland) Ltd, with support from the LINK Woodlands Group.
Featured image: Sandra Graham