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Assessing the Area of Suitable Land for Climate Change Mitigation with Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Scotland

Author

Listed:
  • Ismaila Abimbola

    (Department of Environmental Science, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland)

  • Diana Feliciano

    (TUIBS Finance, Performance & Marketing, Teesside University International Business School, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK)

Abstract

One of the key areas in which the United Kingdom government plans to achieve net zero, reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon is through afforestation. Afforestation will also provide ecosystem services to society. The Scottish government’s target is to increase woodland cover in Scotland to 25% by 2050. In this study, a land suitability analysis was used to investigate the likelihood of achieving this target based on the biophysically suitable and available land considering the current policy constraints for planting Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ) in Scotland. The results showed that about 19% of land area in Scotland is biophysically suitable for Sitka spruce and about 13% is biophysically suitable and available based on policy constraints. Thus, there is an opportunity for the Scottish government to increase the woodland cover in Scotland to 31.5% and exceed its 25% woodland target. However, for Scotland to achieve net zero by 2045, it will require that more trees be planted on higher-quality agricultural land, different from areas where trees are currently planted.

Suggested Citation

  • Ismaila Abimbola & Diana Feliciano, 2022. "Assessing the Area of Suitable Land for Climate Change Mitigation with Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in Scotland," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-23, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:10:p:1753-:d:937065
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matthews, K.B. & Wardell-Johnson, Doug & Miller, Dave & Fitton, Nuala & Jones, Ed & Bathgate, Stephen & Randle, Tim & Matthews, Robin & Smith, Pete & Perks, Mike, 2020. "Not seeing the carbon for the trees? Why area-based targets for establishing new woodlands can limit or underplay their climate change mitigation benefits," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    2. Nijnik, Maria & Pajot, Guillaume & Moffat, Andy J. & Slee, Bill, 2013. "An economic analysis of the establishment of forest plantations in the United Kingdom to mitigate climatic change," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 34-42.
    3. Iain Brown & Marie Castellazzi & Diana Feliciano, 2014. "Comparing Path Dependence and Spatial Targeting of Land Use in Implementing Climate Change Responses," Land, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-24, July.
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