Rural Support Plan (RSP) - Annex

Forestry Grant Scheme

Forestry Grant Scheme - RP&S guidance

Description

Scottish Forestry administered grants supporting the creation of new woodlands and the sustainable management of existing woodlands

Purpose

Scotland’s woodlands and forests are a vital national resource and play an important role in rural economic development and sustainable land use. As well as helping to reduce the impacts of climate change and providing timber for industry, our forests enhance and protect the environment and provide opportunities for public enjoyment. The FGS delivers against multiple policy areas, covered by the following Scottish Government Strategies: Scottish Biodiversity Strategy; Scotland’s Climate Change Plan; and Scotland’s Forestry Strategy. This includes incentivising and promoting the creation of new woodlands and agroforestry systems, and management practices that improve and protect Scotland’s forests and trees. By protecting and enhancing Scotland’s forests, we can reduce pollution, enhance biodiversity, and support resilient ecosystems that mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, both on farm and downstream.

Contribution to Strategic Outcomes

High Quality Food Production

• The creation of in-field agroforestry systems, or adjacent woodlands such as shelter belts, provides shelter, shade, and forage for livestock, improving their welfare.
• The creation of in-field agroforestry systems provides opportunities to enhance production and provide a means to diversify farm outputs.

Enabling Thriving Rural Communities

• The creation and management of woodlands, and support for rural economic development, supports a significant and expanding number of rural jobs across Scotland. Forests also support community health and wellbeing, both in rural and urban environments.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

• The creation of new woodlands and the sustainable management of existing woodlands facilitates large-scale nature restoration and climate mitigation. Forests can provide significant climate mitigation through carbon sequestration and ammonia capture, and climate adaptation including improving soil, water, and air quality, managing flood risk, and reducing soil erosion.

Nature Restoration

• The creation of new woodlands and the sustainable management of existing woodlands facilitates large-scale nature restoration and climate mitigation. Forests can provide significant climate mitigation through carbon sequestration and ammonia capture, and climate adaptation including improving soil, water, and air quality, managing flood risk, and reducing soil erosion.
• The creation of in-field agroforestry systems provides increased biodiversity and improved soil health.

Method

Application via RP&S

Key dates

Applications for capital funding are open all-year round. Some annual maintenance payments are claimed on the SAF, following the same timeframes.

Eligibility

• You must have a BRN and be registered with RP&S
• For applicable options, such as woodland creation, have suitable land registered against the BRN.

Requirements

• Applications must follow the option eligibility criteria and meet the minimum scoring threshold.
• Work must adhere to contract conditions and the UK Forestry Standard, where applicable.
• You must comply with grant conditions including Fair Work First

Baseline payment information:

Budget circa £58.7M

No. of recipients 5,908 applications approved since the scheme launched in 2015

Monitoring by Scottish Forestry (SF) staff. Capital works are inspected upon claim. A selection of annual grants are inspected each year. Evaluation carried out by SF, the most recent evaluation covered 2015-2021 and can be found here.