Rural and Environment

International Day of Forests

March 21, 2017 by Fergus Ewing MSP No Comments | Category Environment

Today is the UN International Day of Forests 2017.

All over the world, countries realise how important their forests and woodlands are.

Wood is good for people, the planet and for business. In Scotland, we are a world leader in sustainable forestry and green energy.

The Scottish Government is committed to planting more trees. We have taken action to increase our planting targets from 10,000 ha a year to 15,000 ha by 2025.

This new wood resource will be a natural powerhouse for our environment and our economy. Already the forest industry is a £1billion success story employing 25,000 jobs – we’ll build on this.

Globally, timber is a key natural energy provider. About half of global wood production is used as energy: for cooking, heating and electricity generation.

Used in the right way, wood is a cost effective and sustainable fuel source which helps alleviate fuel poverty. It is a great material for building homes.

On International Day of Forests, why not take some time to find out about global forestry and what it delivers, or…just enjoy a walk in the woods with a friend.

Tags: forests, green energy, international, rural economy, Scotland, Scottish Government, woodlands

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