Scotland's woodland landscape

Scotland's landscapes are important. Their influence stretches beyond the fact they provide a backdrop to our daily lives. 

They are also:

• vital in helping us connect us with our history and culture
• one of the main reasons visitors choose to spend time here
• a physical representation of our sustainable environment and economy

Many of our landscapes are recognised for their special qualities, and these can be protected at:

• national level 
• regional level

For example, National Scenic Areas or National Parks.

National Scenic Areas (NatureScot website / Làrach-lìn NàdarAlba)

Discover our National Parks (NatureScot website / Làrach-lìn NàdarAlba)

Or, at the regional level, Local Landscape Areas.

Local Landscape Areas (NatureScot website / Làrach-lìn NàdarAlba)

The European Landscape Convention

The UK has signed the European Landscape Convention, recognising the importance of landscape to our natural heritage. 

Council of Europe Landscape Convention (Council of Europe website)

The Convention describes landscape as ‘an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors’. 

This is a wide-ranging and inclusive definition, and it covers all landscapes – including towns, villages and open countryside, whether:

• natural or managed
• designated, or not

Decision making around landscape

Scottish Forestry understands that trees, woodlands and forests contribute to the quality of our diverse landscapes. 

We also know that new planting, or managing existing cover, can affect the way a landscape is perceived. 

Because of this we helped to develop the principles set out in UK Forestry Standard (UKFS). We use these to inform our decision-making; Chapter 6 contains the relevant requirements and guidelines for Forests and Landscape.

UK Forestry Standard, 5th edition