National park aims to protect precious trees

Plans have been unveiled to help protect trees in a national park which covers part of Perthshire.

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority has launched a new trees and woodland strategy to highlight the value of trees in the area, and outlining how they should be protected over the next 20 years.

Woodlands in the park, which covers areas of western Perthshire, provide a range of benefits, including tackling climate change and creating jobs.

The strategy was officially launched last week by Mairi Gougeon, minister for rural affairs and the natural environment.

She said:“The woodlands of the national park are some of our most important natural assets.

“They have a vital role to play in supporting our national response to the global climate emergency while also contributing to a thriving rural economy.

“Trees and woodlands are also integral to delivering social and economic benefits to the area including employment, community involvement in woodland management, and the simple enjoyment of local residents and visitors to the national park.

“We need to protect and enhance this precious resource for future generations and this strategy sets out the approach to do just that.”

Currently 31 per cent of the national park is covered by woodland, a quarter of which is native woodland.

Much of this is of global importance to nature, and the national park authority is looking to create around 3000 to 5000 hectares per year of native woodland.

Simon Jones, director of conservation and visitor operations at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, said: “Looking after our existing trees and creating new, well planned woodland will help capture more carbon and could support natural flood management. It will also increase the biodiversity of our rare Atlantic rainforests and other habitats and protect species such as black grouse and red squirrels.

“That’s why it’s so important that we have a clear plan that provides a guide for everyone who has a role to play in managing, protecting and creating woodland to work together to protect this previous resource.”