Forest trade our bodies untie to asses affect of Storm Arwen

Scottish Forestry is working with Confor and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) to completely assess the affect that Storm Arwen has had on the nation’s forests and woodlands.

Conferences have already taken place between the organisations to begin planning the restoration of no less than 4,000ha of woodland which were affected by the storm.

A brand new mapping software, developed by Forest Analysis and Scottish Forestry, can be invaluable within the restoration course of.

For the primary time, woodland managers will be capable to use the satellite tv for pc knowledge to get an preliminary understanding of the place the injury has occurred, with out the quick want for intensive and doubtlessly dangerous web site visits.

Essentially the most intensive injury to Scotland’s woodlands runs down the east coast, throughout the Borders and East Lothian, stretching into Galloway. One other swathe of injury runs by Banffshire, Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire, Angus and into Perthshire.

‘The problem of local weather change’

Atmosphere Minister Màiri McAllan mentioned:

“Storm Arwen supplied a salutary lesson of the facility of nature and the problem of local weather change. Our folks suffered and so, too, did our pure setting.

The affect is obvious within the distressing photos of flattened forests and woodlands which is able to take a long time, if not centuries to get well from.

“Their loss reminds us of the numerous function timber play in our lives, communities, economic system and wellbeing.

“Behind this can be a monumental clear up operation which is being undertaken by giant and small woodland homeowners.

“While that is being carried out, the message to the general public is to not enter into affected forests till they’re made protected.

“Forestry could be a long run enterprise, however attending to grips with managing the windblown timber has already begun.

“As extra correct data turns into accessible, Scotland’s forest trade can be taking selections on dealing with the additional volumes of timber that must be harvested.