In June 2023, we published the case study on Help Trees Help Us’ campaign on saving Scotland’s ancient and native woodlands.
One of the key actions taken by Help Trees Help Us was a petition submitted to the Scottish Parliament in 2020. After nearly five years of championing legal protections for Scotland’s ancient and native woodland via the petition, the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation & Petitions Committee closed it on 5 February 2025 citing a new register of ancient woodlands being introduced in 2027 as part of the Biodiversity Delivery Plan 2024-2030, the introduction of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill and a commitment from CONFOR to sustainable forestry management and consideration from the environment.
Help Trees Help Us provided an update below.
An update from Help Trees Help Us – 5 February 2025
“With the closing of the petition, we have not achieved its main objective. But we’re not downhearted because we, and many other campaigners who care about Scotland, have helped get the ball on the right side of the pitch.
We’re grateful to ERCS, the Petitions Committee, our constituency MSP Jackie Baillie and the thousands of people who signed the petition for their engagement, support and willingness to learn about the catastrophic impacts of Invasive Non Native Species (especially commercial conifers and Rhododendron ponticum), overgrazing and failures to prosecute people who fell trees without a licence. Many more politicians and decision-makers now understand why just 1% of Scotland’s priceless, irreplaceable ancient woodland is left standing (much of it in poor condition) and government ministers, cabinet secretaries and agencies have been pushed hard for answers and action.
Ancient woodland got more protection in planning law via NPF4 (see p44) in 2023, the Government has promised more action on INNS in the new Biodiversity Delivery Plan 2024-30 and we’ve been promised we will celebrate a new Ancient Woodland Register for Scotland launching 2027. It’s been a marathon start. We rest, recharge, get back in the game.”
