Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022-27 - Other - Page 32
A2. Woodland expansion
Woodland expansion to join up our existing woodlands is crucial to deliver biodiversity and landscape benefits,
capture and store carbon dioxide, provide a sustainable source of timber, improve water quality and help
reduce the risk of flooding.
Our guiding principle in the National Park is ‘the right tree in the right place for the right reason’, and this is
especially true for planting associated with carbon sequestration and the woodland carbon code. There is also
a need to ensure that the relatively limited area of in-bye land in the National Park continues to play a part in
the nation’s food security and is protected from wholesale conversion to woodland.
Diverse, well-planned, climate-resilient and productive woodland will continue to generate economic and
conservation benefits in the National Park. This plan sets out a direction for woodland that is about increasing
areas of natural regeneration; however, planting and fencing will still be required in some places, notably those
with limited seed sources and where there is conflict with herbivore impacts (especially in the early years of
the plan). Fencing is recognised as an important tool for woodland management but it can have negative
impacts. Its use should be carefully considered and, before fencing is agreed, establishment through herbivore
management should be encouraged where the surrounding land use context is favourable.
Finally, there is a need to recognise that the management of existing woodlands plays a key role in delivering
biodiversity, recreation and economic outcomes and there needs to be a continued focus on long-term forest
planning, habitat enhancement, high-quality timber production, rural employment, responsible access and
community engagement.
OBJECTIVE
Increase the amount of woodland in the National Park to support
larger, more natural woodlands, expanding in places up to a natural
treeline, providing connections across river catchments and around
the central core of the mountains.
TARGET
A minimum of 35,000 ha of new woodland cover created by 2045, which:
a) Includes a minimum of 80% native woodland.
b) Includes a minimum of 10,000 ha of natural regeneration without planting.
c) Results in no wholesale conversion of enclosed, in-bye agricultural
land to forestry.
d) Minimises the amount of fencing in the National Park by favouring
establishment through herbivore management and removing
redundant fences.
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