Vision of a New Scotland – The Place of Forestry in the Economic Development of Scotland
We have to thank Christina Uduwerage-Perera of Brora and Rogart, Sutherland, for bringing this remarkable paper to the attention of Forestry Memories and taking the time to type the whole article. At this current time, just in the aftermath of the very significant COP 26 climate event in Glasgow, the phrases following are so of this moment.
“The conflict, if there is a conflict at all, is between forestry and grazing. Grazing lies, as it were, between forestry and agriculture. Let us admit that there will always be land on the borderline between these two kinds of occupation, whose ideal fate it may be difficult to decide.”
“We all want to increase the population of the Highlands, to fill up the empty glens, to stem, if we can, the stream of emigration. It is in the light of this desire that every scheme of rural develop must be considered. We ask of every scheme how many people will it put on the land and induce to stay there, and by the answer to that question we judge it.”
“We realise the importance of providing a large amount of home-grown timber in view of the depletion of the world's timber supply, and we think too of the beneficial effects of forests, not only upon climate, but on the soil of the waste lands to the great advantage the country.”
And so it was in Feb 1913 the Aberdeen Press and Journal commented on and printed a speech given By Sir John Stirling Maxwell to the Aberdeen University Agricultural Discussion Society. Sir John Stirling Maxwell was an ardent proponent of forestry in Scotland and had indeed pioneered forestry planting on his remote and high elevation estate at Corrour from as early as 1890s(See Forestry Memories Number 3356). All this was pre the World War and the eventual formation of the Forestry Commission in which he also played a key role.
The Press and Journal writes - Sir John's address was entitled "The Place of Forestry in the Economic Development of Scotland" His main points were:-
"In Scotland forestry is essentially a highland or hill industry.
Many sheep farms would pay better and employ more people if planted with trees and laid out with small holdings.
There are estates in Aberdeen that would pay better under wood than in pasture.
We have quite enough deer forests in Scotland and some of their area should be made into forests of trees instead."
The full Press and Journal article is written up in the attached PDF, the link below this text.
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