Greens set target for 40% of Scotland to be forest by 2040

Scotland should be a “woodland nation” with two fifths of the country covered in woods within the next two decades, the Scottish Greens will demand.

Green MSP Andy Wightman will use his speech to the party’s virtual conference on Sunday to make the case for “fundamental” land reform.

The party wants more forests to be established across Scotland, with subsidies used to help achieve this along with the creation of new community-owned public forests.

Speaking ahead of his conference speech, Wightman said: “Scottish Greens will be making the case for fundamental change, with a target to reach 40% woodland cover by 2040.”

He hit out at the Scottish Government on the issue, accusing rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing of being “little more than a lobbyist for powerful private interests”.

And he stated: “Today, up to a fifth of Scotland’s land mass is currently used as a playground for the ritual slaughter of grouse and other wildlife for the privileged.

“Let’s be clear. Grouse moors have no place in a Scotland that needs communities empowered and forests and peatlands restored.”

He said the Greens wanted a programme “involving communities, local authorities and local landowners to create a woodland nation”.