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Review of Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm woodland premium Scheme
- In November 2000 the Scottish Executive published its first Scottish Forestry
Strategy "Forests for Scotland". At the time of the Launch the Deputy
Minister for Rural Development announced that the Scottish Executive would
undertake a review of the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme and the Woodland Grant
Scheme; the main forestry support schemes operating under the Rural Development
Regulation and the Rural Development Plan for Scotland. This was seen as an
opportunity to develop a distinctive forestry policy in Scotland which would
be fully integrated with other land uses. The Forestry Commission and the
Environment and Rural Affairs Department have jointly managed the review.
- The terms of reference were:-
"To put forward recommendations for changes to the WGS and FWPS in Scotland
so as to improve their effectiveness in delivering priorities identified in
the Scottish Forestry Strategy, as well as the developing Agriculture Strategy
and the Rural Development Regulation, given current levels of funding."
- In addition, a period of public consultation was held in 2001 and an evaluation
of the effectiveness of the two schemes in Scotland was commissioned from
independent consultants.
- A Steering Group, involving external representatives of forestry, agricultural
and environmental bodies has assisted taking account of responses to the public
consultation, the evaluation report and how the two schemes might integrate
with post devolution developments in sustainable rural policy in Scotland.
The Report of the Steering Group was sent to Scottish Ministers in May
2002.
- The Secretary of the Steering Group, GS Selkirk SEERAD:
LURP 0131 244 6450 (gerry.selkirk@scotland.gsi.gov.uk)
will be happy to answer any queries on the Review.
Additional information
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