Agriculture and Forestry

Structure Plan Chapter 3 - Caring for the Environment

3.8 - Agriculture and Forestry

3.8.1: Agriculture is the most extensive land use within the area and is very diverse, reflecting the area's varied topography, climate and soils. Although much agricultural activity is outwith the remit of the planning framework, national policy recommends protection of prime agricultural land. Accordingly,

Policy ENV7 - Agricultural Land

Development which would result in the permanent loss of prime agricultural land will only be permitted where such land is identified for development in Local Plans and lower quality land cannot reasonably be used.

See also: SD 1

3.8.2

Forestry is a major land use within the Structure Plan area. In addition to significant amounts of commercial woodland, the area contains important semi natural woodlands. Planting of new woodlands and the management of existing woodlands have many important implications for rural employment and the local economy, biodiversity, landscape quality and recreational opportunities. The background report provides further information regarding these issues. A wide range of agency and community stakeholders have been involved in the preparation and the revision of the Indicative Forestry Strategy (IFS) Policy and Background Report.

3.8.3

The aim of the IFS is to provide strategic guidance on new forestry within the Councils’ administrative areas. The Scottish Executive Circular 9/1999, which provides guidance on the preparation of the IFS, encourages development of sustainable policies within the context of the Scottish Forestry Strategy and supports the silvicultural standards outlined in the UK Forestry Standard. It also highlights the ability of multi-benefit woodlands to deliver objectives related to sustainability.

3.8.4

The Forestry Commission Scotland is the regulatory authority. Under the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme, grants are available for stewardship, restocking and new woodland planting. Woodland creation is split into the following five categories

To establish well-designed productive forest,
To expand the area of native woodland,
To improve riparian habitat,
To improve the quality and setting of urban or post-industrial areas,
To improve the diversity of the farmed/crofting landscape.

Each of these categories has different needs and objectives, and the impacts can vary considerably. The IFS diagram is designed to give preliminary general guidance on the suitability of the landscape to accommodate woodland and forestry. However, the general nature of this diagram is not equipped to provide detailed locational guidance, particularly for the riparian and native woodland and woodland designed to improve diversity of farmed landscapes. Specific guidance on technical issues and on issues of detail pertaining to forestry proposals should be sought from the Forestry Commission Scotland. In addition, the Forestry and Woodland Framework produced for the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park will provide further guidance on forestry proposals within the Park area.

3.8.5

The Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs), which have been produced by both Councils, outline detailed actions for the conservation of woodland species and habitats. Forestry and woodland expansion and restructuring will in most cases offer opportunities to work towards meeting the expressed biodiversity objectives for the Structure Plan area. Other Structure Plan and Local Plan policies and conservation constraints are also in place to ensure the appropriate siting and design of new forestry and the exploitation and management of existing forestry. These will gradually be reinforced by the water quality and river engineering requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to be implemented through River Basin Planning.

3.8.6

In addition the following opportunities for woodland expansion have been identified in the Background Report:-

The role of urban woodland planting in enhancing the setting of established and new settlements, such as the major growth area and the eastern villages, and the amelioration of the environmental impacts on extractive industries, such as open cast mining in Clackmannanshire.
The potential to use new woodland planting in the restoration and conservation of historic landscapes.
The role of new woodland planting in substantiating and linking areas of ancient and long-established woodland.

3.8.7

The draft IFS diagram, illustrating the general locational guidance, has been prepared in accordance with the methodology set out in Circular 9/1999. The plan shows a number of categories of land that are defined as Preferred, Potential, Sensitive and Unlikely for forestry, where:-

Preferred: is land with the greatest scope to pursue a wide range of forestry objectives where it should be possible to accommodate local sensitivities in well-designed proposals.
Potential: is land with considerable potential to pursue a range of forestry objectives, but where there is at least one significant sensitivity. The extent to which certain objectives can be pursued will depend on how well these can be accommodated. Landscape designations (e.g. National Scenic Areas) and nature conservation designations (e.g. SSSI’s) are considered to be significant sensitivities. Visually prominent sites, and the setting of towns and settlements, as well as areas of raised bog and priority habitats are all considered to be significant sensitivities.
Sensitive: are areas with a combination of factors including areas of exceptional natural and cultural heritage. Generally, where more than one significant sensitivity exists, or where the significant sensitivity is totally incompatible with forestry and woodland planting, the area is categorised as sensitive, as in the case of fens and bogs. There may also be instances where the sensitivities are of a landscape nature and there is limited scope for commercial forestry, although sensitively designed native woodland planting or riparian planting may be appropriate.
Unlikely: these are areas where new forestry is unlikely due to factors such as topography, settlements, and land over 500 metres.

3.8.8

These categories are based on the various sensitivities affecting the land. In addition to nature and landscape interests, there are other components of sensitivity such as built heritage and archaeological interests (including battlefields of historical importance) and visual interests (including significant viewpoints and the setting of settlements).

Policy ENV8 - Forestry

The Councils will support forestry and woodland activities consistent with the IFS Diagram and Forestry Commission Scotland best practice guidance where they:-

Are consistent with the objectives and targets specified in the LBAPs and other supplementary guidance prepared by the National Park Authority, Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils.
Accord with the key strategic aims of the appropriate landscape character area as defined by the landscape character assessments.
Enhance the landscape setting of settlements, industry and transport corridors as well as improve the landscape, nature conservation and recreational value of degraded landscapes and Greenbelt.
Enhance native woodland, riparian woodland and sites contained in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes.
Promote sustainable forest and woodland based recreation and public access including agricultural diversification.
Create new woodland in and around settlements.