Dundee West Labour
13 February 2020
Scottish Labour Rural Economy Spokesperson, Colin Smyth MSP, has today accused the SNP government of deep cuts to the forestry commission over an extended period and of also failing to meet tree-planting targets.
Analysis conducted by Scottish Labour has revealed that since 2007-08 forestry funding in Scotland has faced a cumulative real term cut worth as much as £278m.
In addition, The Scottish Government have only met their planting target once since the target was introduced in 2010.
Friends of the Earth Scotland has characterised the SNP’s proposed budget as “ tinkering around the edges” in the face of the climate crisis.
Commenting, Scottish Labour Rural Economy Spokesperson, Colin Smyth MSP, said:
“ Without proper investment in forestry there is no way that we can properly harness the immense potential of Scotland’s forests.
“Under the SNP, in place of investment, we have had a real terms cut of £278m to forestry funding while the SNP has failed to meet their own planting target by every year bar one since 2010.
“For too long the SNP has failed to invest in Scotland’s Forestry sector and has failed utterly to fulfil basic environmental obligations such as the re-planting of trees.
“ With the threat of the Climate Crisis becoming more evident by the day, it is imperative that the SNP faces up to its obligations and takes action to invest in our environment.”
Scottish Labour Rural Economy Spokesperson, Colin Smyth MSP, has today accused the SNP government of deep cuts to the forestry commission over an extended period and of also failing to meet tree-planting targets.
Analysis conducted by Scottish Labour has revealed that since 2007-08 forestry funding in Scotland has faced a cumulative real term cut worth as much as £278m.
In addition, The Scottish Government have only met their planting target once since the target was introduced in 2010.
Friends of the Earth Scotland has characterised the SNP’s proposed budget as “ tinkering around the edges” in the face of the climate crisis.
Commenting, Scottish Labour Rural Economy Spokesperson, Colin Smyth MSP, said:
“ Without proper investment in forestry there is no way that we can properly harness the immense potential of Scotland’s forests.
“Under the SNP, in place of investment, we have had a real terms cut of £278m to forestry funding while the SNP has failed to meet their own planting target by every year bar one since 2010.
“For too long the SNP has failed to invest in Scotland’s Forestry sector and has failed utterly to fulfil basic environmental obligations such as the re-planting of trees.
“ With the threat of the Climate Crisis becoming more evident by the day, it is imperative that the SNP faces up to its obligations and takes action to invest in our environment.”