The Scottish government’s climate change advisers have raised “serious concerns” about cuts to tree planting.
It was announced in December that the woodland creation budget was being slashed by 41% from £77.2m to £45.4m.
Ministers have admitted the cut means they will fall well short of next year’s target of 18,000 hectares of new woodland to tackle climate change.
The Scottish government has blamed the decision on cuts to the block grant from Westminster.
The forestry sector said the decision will mean millions of small trees which have been growing in nurseries ready for planting will have to be destroyed.
‘The forestry sector said the decision will mean millions of small trees which have been growing in nurseries ready for planting will have to be destroyed.’
This seems needlessly wasteful. Surely if they’re going to be destroyed anyway you could give them away for free? There must be tree planting charities that could take advantage of a least some of these?
It depends in the value of the tree vs the cost to plant it. If the shortfall in funding mostly covers the cost to pay people to plant the trees then the charities will have to make up the shortfall in time or donations which may be impossible.
True enough. You’re more than likely correct, it’s still frustrating though.
Absolutely.
Yes, that was my first thought. There has to some potential for that.