The first 45 of 112,000 trees have been planted as part of a new native woodland being established at Maol Ban on the Isle of Skye by Mowi Scotland.
Over 2024-2025, 112,000 native broadleaved trees will be planted across 102 hectares of land near to Mowi Scotland’s Caol Mor seawater farm on the north side of Loch Ainort.
A ceremony took place on 21st October, with Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, planting the first tree.
Local councillor John Finlayson was also in attendance alongside Mowi Scotland staff and consultants from delivery partner Galbraith together with forestry team, SM Forestry.
Funding for the project was granted by Scottish Forestry, the Scottish Government agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulation.
“Our Maol Ban native woodland project has been six years in the making and is thought to be a first for any aquaculture company in Scotland,” explains Stephen MacIntyre, Head of Environment at Mowi Scotland.
“It is a unique and exciting project that will produce real outcomes that support Mowi’s strategic sustainability programmes and policies on the topics of protecting nature and biodiversity, and delivering actions that contribute to tackling climate change.
“The project is aligned to Scotland’s Forestry Strategy, published by the Scottish Government, which seeks to increase woodland cover and contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration.
“In fact, the woodland is estimated to have the potential to sequestrate 38,616 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next 100 years.”
Mowi owns the land forming the woodland adjacent to its Caol Mor fish farms, which comprises an open hillside/low ridge on the north side of Loch Ainort, lying within the Cuillins Special Protection Area (SPA), on the edge of the Cuillin Hills National Scenic Area (NSA).
By planting native broadleaves, primarily Native Upland Birch, the woodland will strengthen soil and water, protect, and enhance habitat quality and biodiversity with resulting overall benefits to the designated site features of the SPA.
The planting proposals have been sensitively designed, including maintaining areas of open ground and incorporating low-density planting, which will additionally ensure that the special qualities of the NSA are protected.
Ben Hadfield, COO Mowi Scotland, added:
“At Mowi, we are proud of our sustainability credentials in which we provide a sustainable superfood with a low carbon footprint, and that just got even better.
“We are pleased to establish the Maol Ban native woodland at neutral cost, thanks to Scottish Forestry and Scottish Government support, and proud to see the first trees planted with more to follow very soon.”
Ground preparation work for planting will now commence across the entire site followed by tree planting which is scheduled to be complete by March 2025.
