An estimated 16 million trees have been chopped down in Scottland to prepare for wind farm development.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said that 15.7 million trees have been taken down since 2000.
She added that wind farm developers are expected to handle “compensatory planting elsewhere.”
According to Liam Kerr, a Scottish Tory MSP, “Communities all over the country” have voiced concerns about the project.
“I’ve been contacted many times by rural communities all over the country questioning the location of these developments, sharing legitimate concerns not just about the visual impact but also damage to wildlife and business. Now we learn there’s significant damage when it comes to trees,” Kerr said.
He noted that ministers must consider the “significant costs” of the wind farms.
According to the Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) more than 500 million trees have been planted since 2000.
Reporting from The Telegraph:
A [FLS] spokesman said: “Renewable energy generated from wind farms is a key element in Scotland’s response to the climate emergency and the shift towards net zero and the infrastructure on land that we manage generates enough power for 600,000 homes.” Morag Watson, director of policy at trade body Scottish Renewables said: “The volatile price of imported gas has left energy consumers suffering some of the highest prices in living memory, alongside a climate emergency which means cutting the amount of carbon we emit as quickly as possible. “Building new wind farms - the cheapest form of power generation - tackles both problems at once.”
