Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 13 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cumulative impact of the loss of farmland in Eskdale as a result of commercial forestry planting.
The loss of agricultural land, including the cumulative loss with other recent forestry projects, is considered as part of the formal assessment of significant woodland creation applications.
An agricultural assessment is also normally carried out as part of any woodland creation application. These assessments are prepared by independent agricultural specialists and incorporate feedback with the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division.
Indicative analysis of schemes under development indicates that over 95% of planting is being proposed on LCA classes 5 and 6.