Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2009
Annual publication containing summary of key statistics on environmental trends in Scotland
Land
Area of Woodland: 1924-2009
Area (thousand hectares)
1924 |
1947 |
1965 |
1980 |
1995 |
2009 19 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Area (000 hectares) |
435 |
513 |
656 |
920 |
1,282 |
1,341 |
% of total land |
5.5 |
6.5 |
8.3 |
11.7 |
16.3 |
17.2 |
The extent of woodland 20 is of significant environmental importance. Woodland provides wildlife habitats and affects the physical environment, and is also valued as a location for recreation and for its contribution to the landscape. It can also contribute to the sustainable production of wood products and paper, and provide a source of renewable energy.
Woodland is managed by the Forestry Commission, other public bodies (including other government departments and local authorities), and private owners. The Forestry Commission manages a third of woodland in Scotland. Planting and management of non-Forestry Commission woodland is normally carried out with the assistance of government grants. 56% of Scotland's woodland area is certified as sustainably managed.
New planting of woodland peaked in 1988 and 1989 when over 25,000 hectares of new woodland a year were created. Since then new planting has declined to around 3,400 hectares in 2008-09. In 2009, the area of woodland in Scotland was 17.2% of the total land area, compared with 5.5% in 1924 and 11.7% in 1980.
Source: Forestry Commission21
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