FORESTRY bosses have hit back at suggestions approval delays were one of the reasons behind Scotland's planting slump. 

Scottish Forestry (SF) officials say they gave the greenlight for 11,000 hectares of woodland to be created during the last planting season, despite just 8,190 ha coming to fruition. They argue the 25 per cent slippage from the approved figure to the actual number was "out of their control and rests with those doing the planting". 

The retort comes in the wake of claims from a leading forestry figure that slow approvals hindered woodland-creation efforts in the 12 months prior to the end of March 2023. 

READ MORE: Paperwork delays 'to blame for Scotland's planting slump'

Speaking to Forestry Journal at the Royal Highland Show, Scottish Woodlands' David Robertson said: "We need to look at how we speed up approvals. This year, we've seen there being surplus capacity in the contracting field because of slow approvals on grant schemes. 

"At a time when we have a climate crisis, the industry is burning between five and seven million trees in the nursery sector. 

"We need to find a better way to drive afforestation projects. We need to work with the private sector and the public sector – all of these constituent parts – to make it happen." 

While acknowledging their own role in the failings – the 8,190 ha was the first time the planting figure had dropped below 10,000 ha in half a decade – SF bosses argue any suggestion approval delays were to blame "doesn't reflect the whole picture". 

An SF spokesperson said: “Last year’s dip in new planting was disappointing and Scottish Forestry acknowledge that we have a role to play, along with others, in achieving improvement now and in future years. However, suggestions that these issues entirely rest with Scottish Forestry and delays in assessing new woodland applications doesn’t reflect the whole picture. 

“Scottish Forestry does not undertake the work of tree planting, this is carried out by a range of organisations in the forestry sector. 

"In 2022/23 Scottish Forestry approved grant applications for the planting of around 11,000 ha, with around 25 per cent of the approved planting projects not then proceeding that year for reasons completely unrelated to the approvals process."

In the wake of the most recent planting statistics, Mairi Gougeon, Scotland's rural affairs secretary, called an emergency forestry summit to address the country's woes. This came shortly after she announced a £1 million funding package to train frontline SF staff. 

The spokesperson added: “Scottish Forestry is investing significantly in improving the speed and efficiency of the assessment process, while ensuring good quality decisions, that take account of the impact on the local environment and communities, continue to be made."