Forest Grant Scheme consultation response

This document contains a response from the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) to a consultation on the Forest Grant Scheme (FGS). Overall, the Park Authority seeks a system that supports land managers in achieving the National Park Partnership Plan's goal of 35,000 hectares of new woodland cover by 2045, with a focus on native woodland and natural regeneration. The Park Authority suggests revisions to the FGS to better incentivize unfenced regeneration through herbivore management, integrate the FGS with other land management schemes, and support a diverse forestry industry that contributes to broader ecological goals and addresses climate change. Additionally, the Park Authority emphasizes the importance of simplifying the FGS application process, increasing transparency, and ensuring that forestry projects deliver social, environmental, and community benefits.