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All applications that require Environmental Impact Assessment consent need to submit a full Environmental Statement. Therefore, since 2007 no woodland planting has been consented by Forestry Commission Scotland without an approved environmental impact assessment (Environmental Statement) for any woodland, whether below 2 hectares, between 2 and 100 hectares, or above 100 hectares.

Forestry Commission Scotland assesses the site of proposals for woodland expansion and their environmental impacts using the Selection Criteria (stated in Schedule 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999) and the information supplied by the applicant. The cumulative impact of projects is taken into account during the Environmental Impact Assessment determination screening phase.

Since 2012 the number of applications received for activities that required screening in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 was 979. The number received by each Forestry Commission Scotland Conservancy is detailed in the following table.

Since 2012 the number of applications approved for activities that required screening in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 was 967. The number received by each Forestry Commission Scotland Conservancy is detailed in the following table.

Since 2010 the number of Environmental Impact Assessment cases determined by Forestry Commission Scotland was 1466.

The number of applications determined not to require assessment was 1440. The number of applications determined to need an Environmental Impact Assessment and subsequently consent was not given, was zero. The number of applications that subsequently required environmental impact assessment was 26. The number of applications that required appropriate assessment of their effect on European wildlife sites was 3.

All applications that require Environmental Impact Assessment consent need to submit a full Environmental Statement. Therefore, since 2010 no woodland planting on sensitive and non-sensitive sites have been consented without an approved environmental impact assessment (Environmental Statement).

Forestry Commission Scotland provides bespoke Environmental Impact Assessment staff training which covers all aspects of Environmental Impact Assessment legislation, procedures, and assessment.

Forestry Commission Scotland provides internal guidance to staff in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Code, which contains information on all of the steps in the Environment Impact Assessment process and on policy and legislation. Within this document, guidance is provided on assessing sensitivity, magnitude and significance. Forestry Commission Scotland also provides a training course to staff using this guidance.

Forest Enterprise Scotland, an agency of Forestry Commission Scotland, manages Scotland’s National Forest Estate (NFE) on behalf of Scottish Ministers. FES uses - at a national level - the National Strategic Directions publication, which sets out how the conservation of biodiversity is delivered across the NFE in line with the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act (2004). In prioritising biodiversity related work programmes, Forest Enterprise Scotland is guided by the Scottish Forestry Strategy, as well as the biodiversity guidelines contained within the UK Forestry Standard. The actions taken, and progress achieved, are reported annually in the published Forest Commission Scotland Annual Review, as required by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011). In addition, the independent certification of the NFE under the UK Woodland Assurance Standard provides assurance that the management of biodiversity on the estate follows industry best practice.

The delivery of Scottish Biodiversity Strategy objectives on the NFE also contributes to the international biodiversity targets set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy and in the Convention on Biological Diversity's Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 (Aichi targets). To ensure that the EU Habitats and Birds Directives are met, all nature conservation features of special interest on designated sites on the NFE are also monitored in collaboration with Scottish Natural Heritage under the national Site Condition Monitoring programme.

The cumulative impact of projects is taken into account during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) determination screening phase. Information on existing woodland creation projects is recorded and is available to Forestry Commission Scotland staff and the public through the publically available web browsers at the following: http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/supporting/communication-consultation/map-viewer-guidance

Schedule 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999, states the Selection Criteria for Projects having significant effects on the environment – this includes the characteristics and location of the project. The procedures used by Forestry Commission Scotland are contained in the published guidance available at the following website: http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/images/corporate/pdf/EIAGeneral09.pdf