It’s official! Scotland's national forests are among the most sustainable in the world after retaining the internationally recognised 'green' stamp of approval from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Forestry Commission Scotland has been re-certified under the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS) and will continue to display the international trademark of the FSC, an independent forest certification organisation, on their products. The FSC logo gives assurance to buyers that the wood has come from well managed, sustainable forests. Construction timber, signs, outdoor furniture and fencing, panelboards, paper and venison are among the FSC-certified goods produced from national forests across Scotland.

As the first state forest service in the world to be awarded the right to display the FSC logo, Forestry Commission Scotland has proved to be a world leader in sustainable forest management. To meet the demanding standards for certification, a balance of environmental, economic and social elements has to be achieved. Managing over a third of all Scotland's total forest area, Forestry Commission Scotland has succeeded in balancing these three key elements of sustainability. As well as being Scotland's largest producer of wood, Forestry Commission Scotland is the largest provider of public access and recreation, and manages many Sites of Special Scientific Interest and ancient monuments.

The Commission's Scotland Director, Dr McIntosh, commended the 1,000 staff around Scotland and comments on their achievement:

"The standards are tough - forest certification is not just about whether we plant enough new trees to replace the ones we harvest. It's about sustainability in its widest sense of looking after the whole forest environment so that future generations will enjoy it as much as we do.

"It's a delicate balancing act, especially in areas where national forests are heavily used by visitors and are also important for protecting vulnerable wildlife, such as capercaillie and red squirrels, while still producing timber and supporting local jobs. So it's a real feather in the cap for the Commission's staff - and the contractors who work in the forests - that we passed the test again, and we look forward to continuing to provide sustainable forest management for the benefit of the people of Scotland and visitors."

For more information:

• Forestry Commission Scotland Press Release
• Forestry Stewardship Council
• UK Woodland Assurance Scheme