The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
‘Trees make way for windfarms’
Environment: Tories claim forests being cut down because of SNP energy policy
Millions of trees have been cut down to make way for windfarms tomeet Scottish Government renewable energy targets, it was claimed last night.
Information obtained by the Conservatives shows that 6, 202acres (or 2,510hectares) have been axed since 2007 – equating to around 5million trees.
Figures received from the Forestry Commission, under freedom of information, show that 1,957acres (792hectares) have been replanted after the turbines were erected.
The Tories claimed the figures were the “latest damning statistic” behind the SNP’s target to produce the equivalent of all of Scotland’s electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020.
Scottish Tory energy spokesman Murdo Fraser said: “The SNP i s so blindly obsessed with renewable energy that it doesn't mind destroying another important environmental attribute to make way for it.
“It’s quite astonishing to see almost as many trees have been destroyed as there are people in Scotland.
“The contribution of trees to our environment
“It’s quite astonishing to see”
has been well established through the ages.
“I'm still waiting to see compelling evidence of the contribution windfarms make. They are an expensive, intermittent and unreliable alternative, and not one that it’s worth making this level of sacrifice to accommodate.”
Environment and Climate Change minister Paul Wheelhouse said Mr Fraser had “misrepresented the full picture”.
“With careful planning of the development of windfarms on the National Forest Estate, we have re- planted nearly 800hectares (3,237acres), and have restored significant areas of important open habitat where this is best f or the environment,” he said.
“The result is that of the area felled for windfarms, only 315hectares ( 778acres) of land suitable for another rotation of trees has not been replanted.
“And to put it in real context, in t he same six-year period, Forestry Commission Scotland has supported over 31,400 hectares (77,591acres) of new planting – that’s a staggering 62million trees i n the ground across Scotland.”