Forestry Commission

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is a public agency of the Scottish Government responsible for managing Scotland’s national forests and land. Established in 2019 following the devolution of forestry powers to Scotland, the organisation took over operational responsibilities previously held by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The agency manages the National Forest Estate, which covers roughly 640,000 hectares – about 9% of Scotland’s land area. Its responsibilities include sustainable timber production, conservation of wildlife habitats, protection of historic sites and improving public access to forests and countryside.

Alongside environmental stewardship, Forestry and Land Scotland supports tourism, recreation and the rural economy through the management of trails, visitor facilities and outdoor activity sites across the country. Through this work the organisation aims to balance forestry production with biodiversity, climate resilience and public enjoyment of Scotland’s forests and landscapes.