SCOTLAND is to increase its annual tree planting target from 10,000 hectares to 15,000 hectares by 2025 – meaning that planting will have to rise from around 22 million to 33 million trees every year.

The new targets for woodland creation were revealed to the Scottish Parliament by Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham, as part of the Scottish Government's Draft Climate Change plan.

The new targets, arriving progressively, would aim for 12,000 hectares of new woodland in each of the years 2020-21 – around 26.5 million trees – 14,000 hectares of new woodland from 2022-23 – just over 32 million trees – and 15,000 hectares of new woodland from 2024-25 – about 33 million trees.

The Cabinet Secretary also revealed plans to increase the use of Scottish wood products in construction from the current level of 2.2 million cubic metres to 2.6 million cubic metres by 2021-22 and 3 million cubic metres by 2031-2.

Trade body Confor welcomed the "enormous ambition" for the Scottish forestry and timber sector, which already employs more than 25,000 people in Scotland and delivers £1 billion in annual economic value. Chief Executive Stuart Goodall said: "It is great to see such enormous ambition for forestry and timber displayed by the Scottish Government.

"Fergus Ewing has made it clear that he is totally committed to meeting the 10,000 hectare target to super-charge Scotland's rural economy and we have worked with him closely to come up with practical proposals to do that.

"This latest announcement by Roseanna Cunningham shows how forestry and timber can deliver rural jobs and play a major part in reducing carbon in the atmosphere. Trees are natural carbon sinks and wood products store carbon.

"Confor has been stressing how enhanced planting can deliver for our economy and our environment for many years. Planting trees upstream helps reduce flood risks too," he noted. "And let's not forget the role of modern forests in providing tremendous recreational opportunities for our communities through walking, wildlife-watching, cycling and more high-octane pursuits like mountain bike trails and Go Ape."

Mr Goodall added: "I am delighted that the potential for the greater use of timber in construction has also been identified. Off-site timber construction can play an increasingly significant role in providing the tens of thousands of warm, high-quality and sustainable homes that Scotland needs."

Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesman Peter Chapman welcomed the new targets, and called on ScotGov to "streamline the grant process" to make it as easy as possible for farmers to benefit from the opportunities they created.

“We all recognise that forestry is a vitally important part of the rural economy," said Mr Chapman. "Less than 20% of Scotland’s land area is currently forests which compares poorly to Spain, Finland or the EU average. While across Scandinavian countries, most farmers are foresters and it is not unusual at all for farmers to harvest crops over the summer and trees in the winter.

“I am convinced that there are large swathes of land in Scotland where the sheep have already gone off the hills but these areas have not been planted and basically abandoned," he claimed. "Here is a valuable resource and a real source of income for the land owner being wasted."