Scotland Signs Up To Forestry Pledge

11th December 2018

First Minister commits to Bonn Challenge.

A global ambition to restore landscapes and forests has been supported by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.



The Bonn Challenge aims to regenerate 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.



Bianca Jagger, an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Ambassador for the Bonn Challenge, the organisation driving the initiative, was in Edinburgh to meet the First Minister and endorse Scotland's pledge.



The First Minister said:"Developing forestry has many economic, social and environmental benefits, which is why we recognise the importance of the Bonn Challenge and I was pleased to welcome Bianca Jagger to Edinburgh to support this pledge.



"We are already working with partners on high profile restoration projects using forestry, woodlands and green space to improve people's lives and well-being in our urban and rural communities.



“By backing the Bonn Challenge, the Scottish Government has signalled we will play our part in global efforts to increase woodland cover and restore landscapes, benefiting people and the environment. I hope our support will galvanise other governments to join reforestation efforts."



Bianca Jagger, IUCN Ambassador for the Bonn Challenge said:“I am delighted to welcome Scotland’s pledge. Scotland is the first European country to sign up to the Bonn Challenge.



“Scotland joins a cohort of visionary governments and other entities who have recognised that restoring degraded and deforested landscapes is critical to improve people’s lives by achieving poverty reduction and livelihoods generation while also generating benefits for biodiversity and combating climate change."