Forestry on the Black Isle

2022-23

FLS Land Management Plan revision for the Black Isle

From July 2022 to February 2023 Forestry and Land Scotland is engaged in a revision of its management plan for the forests it owns on the Black Isle.   Eelco de Jong, FLS Planning Forester for the Black Isle, writes

We are currently carrying out a Land Management Plan (LMP) revision to help us determine future management proposals for the Black Isle.  An LMP details how we intend to manage our land over the coming 10 years and indicates our vision for the next decades and beyond.  This revision covers all forest and land managed by Forestry and Land Scotland on the Black Isle, an area of approximately 5,111 hectares.

Through the new plan we intend to address issues around resilience to climate change, tree health and age diversity.  We furthermore want to make sure that the forests provide future economic and social benefits to the residents and visitors and that ecological value is retained and enhanced.

A draft plan has been made and the draft maps can be found in the Documents and Maps below. The community was consulted through two separate community consultation events on these draft maps in late November and early December.  A final plan is now being created incorporating feedback from the community and other stakeholders.  The final plan will likely be submitted in February 2023 after which it will appear on the Scottish Forestry Public Register for several weeks.  If you have any questions or comments in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Read more on the FLS website

TBI Convenor Julian Paren has been in touch with Mr de Jong informally in relation to the plan revision, and attended one of the consultation events held last year.

Culbokie Community Trust has announced that Mr de Jong will be the guest speaker at their AGM on 20 March.