RSPB Scotland has responded to a recent government consultation on changes to an important piece of environmental legislation. The Scottish Government is the first of the UK administrations to consult on a new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, which provides an important safeguard against the effects of major new developments on the environment.
RSPB Scotland has since submitted a response to the consultation, which closed on Monday 31 October 2016. The conservation organisation welcomes the Scottish Government leading the way in the UK, however they have also called for the government to review its proposals in relation to forestry. The Scottish Government is seeking to allow larger areas of trees to be planted in Scotland before an EIA is required, but RSPB Scotland believes this approach could be damaging to wildlife.
Head of Planning at RSPB Scotland, Aedán Smith, said: “It’s great that the Scottish Government are leading the way on EIA in the UK and are demonstrating their commitment to protecting Scotland’s wildlife. However, we are concerned that the forestry proposals could weaken scrutiny given to some significant land use changes, which could put some of Scotland’s most important open habitats and the species that live there at risk. Forestry proposals need to be appropriately assessed and consulted on, to maximise the benefits that new woodland can offer to both people and wildlife.”