Land owners and managers working to expand and enhance native woodlands on the Argyll Islands have been offered a financial boost to help them plant more trees.
Available through the Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (administered by Forestry Commission Scotland), an additional 10% will be added to grant support for woodland creation in the Argyll Islands Native Woodland Partnership (AINWP) area.
Syd House, for the Commission in Perth and Argyll, said: “Maintaining and expanding the woodlands on the islands is important for opening up a whole range of economic, social and biodiversity benefits. Woodlands can sustain employment; produce food, timber and the woodfuel that can help reduce costs for farms and homes; as well as helping boost recreation and eco-tourism.
“This extra financial support - which is available now - will help the island economies to develop their local woodlands and help communities and businesses to tap into the wide range of economic and biodiversity benefits that appropriately located woodlands offer.
“The additional funding will help to meet the costs of initial planting, fencing, gates and the establishment work that will help new woodlands to get established and to thrive.”
The AINWP aims to improve the management of the internationally important but threatened woodlands across Coll, Gigha, Iona, Islay, Jura, Mull and Tiree, all of which are havens for rare and protected species.
A number of organisations have worked together to develop the increase in grant support including the AINWP, facilitated by the Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) which was funded by the Argyll LEADER programme, SNH and Forestry Commission Scotland.
For more information in relation to the additional 10% funding available for woodland creation on the Argyll Islands contact the Perth and Argyll Conservancy Office on 01738 442 830 or email PANDA.cons@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
More information can also be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/SRDP/RuralPriorities/
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