SNP admits it cut down 16 million trees to build wind farms

SNP's goal in the wind industry includes replacing existing turbines nearing the end of their useful lives with even taller and larger versions. Photo: Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images Europe

Nearly 16 million trees have been cut down on public land in Scotland. to make room for wind farms, the SNP minister acknowledged amid a massive campaign to install more turbines.

Myri Goujon, Minister for Rural Affairs, has estimated that 15.7 million trees have been cut down on land currently managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) since 2000, the equivalent of more than 1,700 trees a day.

She insisted that the planning was designed to protect forest areas and wind farm developers are expected to undertake «compensation planting elsewhere.»

But Liam Kerr, a Scottish Conservative board member, said the public would be «surprised» by the total, and cited concerns about the developments being raised with him by «communities across the country.» NP ministers want to add another 8-12 GW.

Protection of pristine wilderness is diluted

Their latest planning structure loosens control over building more turbines, while protecting pristine wilderness.

Conservation charity John Muir Trust has warned that the new threshold allowing wind farms to build turbines on wild land is so low that they can't help but meet it.

SNP's wind power goal also includes replacing existing turbines that may be nearing the end of their useful lives with higher and larger versions, a process called «upgrading».

Earlier this year, it emerged that some developers want to build turbines up to 850 feet tall, the equivalent of more than 60 double-decker buses.

In a July 13 letter to Mr. Kerr, Ms. Goujon said about 7,858 hectares of trees had been cleared. to give way to wind farms since 2000.

At an average of 2,000 trees per hectare, she says, «This gives an estimated 15.7 million trees that have been cut down to promote wind farm development.»

The Minister added: «Deforestation should only be allowed if it would bring significant and well-defined additional public benefits.

«Developers should provide compensatory planting»

«If woodlands are removed due to development, developers are generally expected to provide compensatory planting to avoid a net loss of forestland.»

She said many of the felled trees would be «replanted locally» or replaced elsewhere, and the vast majority were part of a commercial crop that would have been cut down «at the end of their rotation» anyway. Now we learn that there is significant damage to the trees.”

He said ministers «should be aware» of the «significant costs» that could be associated with siting wind farms.

The FLS said it had planted more than 500 million trees since 2000, with the number cut down for wind farms roughly in line with a year's harvest program.

The spokesman said: «Renewable energy generated by wind farms is a key element in Scotland's response to climate emergency and zero-emissions, and the onshore infrastructure we manage is generating enough power for 600,000 homes.»

Morag Watson, director of policy for trade organization Scottish Renewables, said: «Due to the volatility in the price of imported gas, energy consumers are suffering some of the highest prices in our memory, along with a climate emergency that means cutting carbon emissions into the atmosphere as quickly as possible.

«C building new wind farms — the cheapest form of electricity generation — solves both problems at once.