SUPPORT for providing forestry with public money in Scotland appears to have fallen to a 10-year low – but does remain high. 

A total of 81 per cent of people surveyed in new research agreed there was at least one benefit from the industry worth supporting with government cash, but this was down from 99 per cent in 2021 and 95 per cent in 2017. It was also eight per cent lower than the 89 per cent recorded in 2013 and 2015. 

Elsewhere, just 15 per cent of respondents agreed money should be spent on providing timber to sawmills (less than half of 2013's 31 per cent) and only three in ten backed doing so to reduce the country's reliance on imported wood. This was also a 10-year low. 

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More positively for the industry, over half of those surveyed cited they would like to see public funds in forestry going towards woodlands that provide wildlife habitats and help to tackle climate change.

Around 55 per cent said they would like to see more woodland in their own area and only three per cent said they would not like to see more trees in their locality.

Commenting on the results, rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon said: "It is encouraging to see that the survey highlights that there is strong support for planting trees for climate change and wildlife as these are the two of the biggest crises that we face.

“Scotland has the most ambitious woodland expansion programme in the UK but we are undertaking this in a careful and considered way, with the aim of getting the right tree in the right place.

“It is good that people see the benefit of using public money for forestry as it provides multiple benefits and supports rural economies. We all need to build on this public support and continue to create forests and woodlands that provide environmental, economic and social benefits for all.”

The results are contained within the Public Opinion of Forestry survey which is carried out every two years by the Forest Research agency. More than 1,000 people across Scotland took part in the survey.

Forestry Journal: Mairi Gougeon said the results were generally encouraging Mairi Gougeon said the results were generally encouraging (Image: FJ)

Some other key findings include: 
•    Over three quarters (77 per cent) of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that ‘trees are good because they remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it in wood’;
•    over four fifths (82 per cent) of respondents had visited forests or woodlands in the last 12 months with walking being by far the most popular activity.
•    around 80 per cent  said that they can relax and de-stress in woodland, with 71 per cent saying they can exercise and keep fit in woodland spaces;
•    on tree health, 65 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that ‘everyone should take action when visiting woodlands to help prevent the spread of damaging tree pests or diseases; and
•    40 per cent agreed that public money should be spent on forestry if it supports the economy in rural areas.