Question reference: S5W-31832
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 15 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 24 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns raised by Fisheries Management Scotland regarding tree-planting grants.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises that planting more trees on riverbanks is good for water quality, good for fish and good for the climate and natural environment. High river temperatures during the summer are a pressure on wild salmon in particular, and we encourage the improvement of our rivers and burns through riparian tree planting. We have already supported over 500 such schemes through the Forestry Grant Scheme in the last three years.
Through the Marine Scotland River Temperature Monitoring Network Scotland leads the way in providing management tools which are able to pinpoint where rivers are hottest in the summer and where trees can reduce temperature most. Scottish Forestry and Marine Scotland will be working together as part of the development of the Wild Salmon Strategy to increase riparian tree planting in order to protect wild salmon.