Question reference: S6W-14578
- Date lodged: 31 January 2023
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 22 February 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any restrictions or controls are in place, during the transfer of land, in relation to protecting existing woodlands that are contributing to flood prevention measures.
Answer
Yes, the felling of trees is regulated through the issuing of Felling Permissions, under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018. Permission must be granted before felling, thinning or deforesting an area of woodland; the sale and transfer of land has no impact on this requirement. The potential effects on flood risk would be taken into account when assessing applications to fell trees.