The legal framework underlying this Route Map is outlined in Appendix D. This document aims to address all outlined obligations.

For the purpose of this publication, general knowledge of Greenhouse Gas Reporting by the reader will be assumed.

However for completeness, the Scottish Government provides guidance and a topical overview here.

7.1 National policy targets

Our 'stated simply' Net Zero goal is in support of and aligned with Scottish Government's national policy targets, specifically:

• Net Zero Scope 1 emissions by 2045
• zero tailpipe emissions from fleet by 2030
• zero emissions from heating in buildings no later than 2038
• 20% reduction in car mileage by 2030

7.2 Our Net Zero principles

While upholding our obligations to Scottish ministers and the Scottish public, our business activities aim to:

1. comply with relevant environmental legislation
2. reduce our consumption of water and energy and increase the proportion of our energy derived from renewable sources via electrification
3. reduce the amount of waste we produce, increase the proportion of waste which is reused or recycled, and prevent pollution
4. minimise unnecessary business travel through the use of technology and flexible working, and promote the use of sustainable methods of transport
5. where practical, buy services from sustainable sources and encourage our suppliers and contractors to improve environmental performance
6. continually improve our performance through monitoring of progress and setting challenging targets
7. reduce behavioural emissions through education and engagement of staff and stakeholders

This Route Map replaces our earlier (2019) Environmental Statement in full.

Since 2022, we have submitted and published an annual Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report (PBCCD Report).

This report, together with all past reports, can be found via the link below for an up-to-date picture of our carbon emissions, internal climate change governance, wider sustainability influence and upcoming carbon reduction projects:

Sustainable Scotland network

A summary of the 2023/24 report, highlighting our emissions by scope, largest carbon contributors and any relevant trends or projects, can be found in Appendix A - Data.

Appendix A - Data

The graphic highlights our Executive Board’s recognition of the need to prioritise and direct resources towards climate change mitigation and adaptation activities, supporting progress towards Net Zero.

The Strategic Lead for Sustainability and Workplace, together with the Net Zero Action Group (NZAG) – a working group made up of people across the organisation with a vested interest in corporate sustainability action – developed this strategy and oversee projects and day-to-day work in this space. 

Members of this group are directly involved in other strategic development work across the organisation (e.g. estate strategy, digital and data strategy, communications or corporate plan development) and beyond (e.g. Woodland Carbon Code, UK Forestry Standard).

All aim to align these strategies to aid the effectiveness of our journey to Net Zero, while telling one comprehensive story.

The Head of Corporate Affairs and Communication will fulfil the role of SRO for our Net Zero Route Map and Action Plan.

The role is defined as: ensuring the successful delivery of a programme or project (with ultimate accountability for meeting objectives), achieving projected outcomes, and realising the intended benefits.

The NZAG escalate any decisions beyond their Terms of Reference to either the Senior Operations Group, or directly to the Executive Board to ensure corporate sustainability is dealt with as a priority at the highest level of the organisation.

Furthermore, the governance of climate change actions is supported by the Corporate Affairs team, who assist the Strategic Lead for Sustainability and Workplace in taking forward the Net Zero Action Plan. This ensures that climate change is part of our Strategic Risk Register, and that sustainability forms a core part of our corporate planning documents.

The Net Zero Action Group will develop projects, guidelines and other pieces of work to weave sustainability into all of our activities.

They will make decisions related to project development and activity (e.g. reporting boundaries for Scope 3, communication channels, external carbon accounting activities and benchmarking).

Scottish Forestry and its people aim to:

• be a role model for public sector low carbon operation
• remain informed about and engaged in Scotland's Net Zero mission
• continue to enable Scotland's forests to flourish and be sustainably managed to deliver more for people, the environment, and the economy

This Net Zero Route Map also relates to the following sections of our current Corporate Strategy and Plan:

• Strategic objective 4 work collaboratively and innovatively, supported by fit-for-purpose and effective business systems and organisational infrastructure
• the Corporate Strategy and Plan sets some targets which naturally align with, and are addressed by, this Route Map:
  • reduce emissions from helicopter use by 90%
  • replace 50% of petrol/diesel fleet miles with electric
  • replace 25% of grey fleet miles with sustainably travelled miles
  • reduce estate-related emissions by 30%

For more details on targets and objectives, please see 'Where we want to be'.

Lastly, Scottish Forestry contributes to the wider objectives of the Scottish Government. In relation to this Route Map, this includes supporting the:

• Climate Change Plan 2026–2040
• Programme for Government

Both of these prioritise tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and working towards a Net Zero Scotland.

Our three biggest emission sources that we can meaningfully influence are emissions from:

• buildings
• helicopter flights
• driving activities

The following coloured icons represent a ‘RAG status’:

• green represents areas where we have projects planned
• red represents areas where we need to take more action to achieve our targets

As part of preparing the LDP Evidence Report, the planning authority will need to:

• evaluate whether the previous plan delivered on its intended outcomes and allocations
• identify any lessons learnt for the preparation of the new plan
• consider the appropriateness of the previous spatial strategy

Depending on timings, these findings could contribute to a review of the existing FWS or other extant forestry plan such as an Indicative Forestry Strategy.

Spatial data to assess existing woodland in the plan area

The following national datasets available on the Scottish Forestry Open Data Portal will help assess the amount of woodland that exists in the plan area, including woodland of high nature conservation value (as stipulated in Section A159(2)(a) of the 1997 Planning Act). 

Scottish Forestry Open Data Portal

The planning authority may hold other useful datasets.

Data to assess the local context for forestry

Information is also available to help assess the local context for forestry. This will highlight if there are trends or factors likely to influence future woodland creation and management in the area - and which the new FWS would need to take account of.

This data might include:

• maps and statistics of recent woodland creation and felling
• maps of existing forest habitat networks and priority species
• agreed timber transport routes
• the accessibility of existing woodland in and around settlements
• planned infrastructure developments, and
• climate projections for the area (and associated risks such as increases in flooding, drought, wildfire and urban heating) and planned peatland restoration

The findings of this review can be used to screen for and possibly scope any appropriate impact assessments the Planning Authority is required to undertake.

The findings will also highlight areas where further research, consultation or data collection is needed in order to write the FWS.