1. The origins of Forestry and Water Scotland Initiative
The Forest and Water Scotland Initiative was originally set up to bring together resources, forest owners, forest managers and practitioners to follow good forestry practice to improve the water environment.
The original Initiative members were:
- Confor
- Forestry Commission Scotland (now Scottish Forestry)
- Forest Enterprise (now Forest and Land Scotland)
- Forestry Contractors Association
- Scottish Government
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
- Scottish Natural Heritage (now NatureScot)
- Scottish Land and Estates
The Initiative achieved its goals of producing:
- the Know the Rules Booklet operational guidance
- providing input to the UKFS Practice Guide on Managing forest operations to protect the water environment
- provide input to other water related guidance
- producing videos and training workshops
Since these goals were completed, the Initiative stopped meeting as it was no longer needed.
The website remained active via Confor’s website to allow continued use of the useful materials produced.
What is happening now?
Scottish Forestry have consulted previous members and conducted a review.
This highlighted a need for a refreshed forestry and water based group to bring together policy, government agencies and the sector. The Forestry and Water Group has been initiated.
The Forestry and Water Scotland Initiative website has been moved to the Scottish Forestry website.
The resource documents listed on the original website, which remain relevant, have therefore been made available. They include:
- 'Know the Rules' Booklet
- a larger size 'Know the Rules' booklet
- FAQs on KTR booklet
- use of insecticides for the management of large pine weevil
- groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems
The remaining documents and videos have not been carried over due to them being superseded by new legislation or guidance.
