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THE STATE OF SCOTLAND'S FARMED ENVIRONMENT 2005

9. FORESTRY AND FARM WOODLAND

History

After the last ice age, woodland recolonised much of Scotland . The reduction of natural woodland began about 4,000 years ago with land clearing for farming and grazing. From the 17 th century, the demands of timber for industrial purposes increased (SNH, 1993). The total woodland area in Scotland reached a low around the beginning of the 20 th century. Since then it has steadily increased with an increase in the proportion of conifers. New planting of woodland peaked in 1988/1989, when 25,000 ha of new woodland were created per year. Since then new planting has declined to below 6,000 ha in 2004 (Scottish Executive, 2005). Half of the UK 's forests are in Scotland , but Scotland is still one of the least wooded countries in Europe .

Table 9.1: Area and types of woodland in Scotland 1913 – 2005

 

1913 1924

1947

1965 1980 1995 2005

Area (000 ha)

 

435

513

656

920

1,282

1,334**

% of total land

4.4*

5.5

6.5

8.3

11.7

16.3

17.0**

Conifers % of total land

 

3.2*

 

 

10.6*

13.5*

13.4**

Broadleaves % of total land

 

2.3*

 

 

1.1*

2.8*

3.6**

Source: Forestry Commission (2005), in Key Scottish Environment Statistics
* SNH (2001)
** Forestry Commission (2005)

After a steady increase over the last century, 17% of Scotland ’s total land area is woodland in 2005 .

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