An environmental history of state forestry in Scotland, 1919-1970
The present single species geometric forest plantations in the Scottish landscape suggest that foresters were not interested in conservation issues and landscape aesthetics. This thesis argues that the appearance of the forests is not so much the result of the foresters' lack of interest in conservation and nature but the social, economic and political pressures that underpinned their creation as well as the Scottish physical environment. Scottish foresters have had a long-standing interest in conservation issues that dates back to the colonial roots of Scottish forestry in mid- 19th century India. The concept of conservation was introduced in Scotland through foresters returning from their service in India and other parts of the Empire. The root of the interest in landscape aesthetics dates back even to the 18th century when Scottsh landowners started to plant trees, both exotic and native, to beautify their estates. By the second half of the 19th century influential landowners became concerned about the fact that Scotland could not produce sufficient timber to provide for its own needs. They also thought that forestry could provide jobs in the Highlands of Scotland and thus contribute to strengthening the
Oostheok, Kornelis Jan Willem
Forest ecology Scotland 20th century ; Forests and forestry Environmental aspects Scotland 20th century
An environmental history of state forestry in Scotland, 1919-1970. The present single species geometric forest plantations in the Scottish landscape suggest that foresters were not interested in conservation issues and landscape aesthetics. This thesis argues that the appearance of the forests is not so much the result of the foresters' lack of interest in conservation and nature but the social, economic and political pressures that underpinned their creation as well as the Scottish physical environment. Scottish foresters have had a long-standing interest in conservation issues that dates back to the colonial roots of Scottish forestry in mid- 19th century India. The concept of conservation was introduced in Scotland through foresters returning from their service in India and other parts of the Empire. The root of the interest in landscape aesthetics dates back even to the 18th century when Scottsh landowners started to plant trees, both exotic and native, to beautify their estates. By the second half of the 19th century influential landowners became concerned about the fact that Scotland could not produce sufficient timber to provide for its own needs. They also thought that forestry could provide jobs in the Highlands of Scotland and thus contribute to strengthening the
environmental_history state forestry scotland present single specie geometric forest plantation scottish landscape suggest interested conservation issue landscape aesthetic argues appearance forest much lack_interest conservation nature social_economic_political pressure underpin creation well scottish physical_environment scottish long_standing interest conservation issue date_back colonial root scottish forestry mid india concept conservation introduce scotland return service india part_empire root interest landscape aesthetic date_back even landowner start plant tree exotic native estate second_half influential landowner become concerned fact scotland could_produce sufficient timber provide need also think forestry could provide job highlands scotland thus_contribute strengthen