The Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament. The Bill is accompanied by a policy document which provides information on new organisational arrangements, cross-border collaboration and specific provisions within the Bill.
The Forestry and Land (Scotland) Bill aims to:
- Improve accountability, transparency and policy alignment by transferring the powers and duties of the Forestry Commissioners, in so far as they relate to Scotland, to Scottish Ministers;
- Create a modern legislative framework to support, develop and regulate forestry; and
- Ensure Ministers can manage their own forestry land with greater flexibility and enter into arrangements to manage forestry and other land owned by other people or bodies.
The policy document confirms plans for Forestry Commission Scotland to become a division of Scottish Government and Forest Enterprise Scotland to become an executive agency of Scottish Government.
The Bill and the policy document can be viewed at: www.gov.scot/forestry/devolution