Minister praises combined Climate Forests ambition to plant 35 million trees
Ambitious plans that will see 35 million trees planted by four Climate Forests, including the GCR Green Network’s Clyde Climate Forest, have been praised by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands.
Across the Central Belt, Climate Forests including Clyde Climate Forest aim to plan millions of trees by 2035 – reducing flooding and temperature extremes, purifying air, and absorbing carbon-delivering, lasting ecological, climate and social benefits.
The initiatives were praised by Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, during this month’s Central Scotland’s Climate Forest Forum which attracted attendees from across the country to hear about the work the initiatives are doing to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.
Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said:
“The Climate Forests are fantastic examples of how partnership working can help tackle climate change, restore nature and improve the quality of life for people across the central belt of Scotland.
“Their work is already expanding much needed urban woodland, building woodland networks, restoring wildlife habitats and creating new opportunities for carbon sequestration. And all this has involved local people, which is brilliant.
“I am particularly pleased that it will enhance woodland in urban communities that are facing higher deprivation and greater risks from a changing climate. This is very important work and I am pleased the Scottish Government continues to be an active partner and able to support these initiatives.”
Chris Stark, Director of Clyde Climate Forest, added:
“I am encouraged to see that the CCF model is being applied to other regions and together we can create new woodland across the whole central belt to provide a place for nature to connect, recover and thrive.
“Climate Forests help regions adapt to and mitigate the effects of a changing climate and make communities more resilient.
“Across central Scotland, partnership working between the Climate Forests will raise our ambition and bring more skills and resources to the table to deliver economic, social and ecological benefits not only to Glasgow City Region, but to Scotland as a whole.”