Our management and structure

Details of who funds us, our management, governance and structure.

On this page:

• Who are we?
• Our mission statement
• Funding and direction
• Working with Scottish Government
• Open data policy
• FCS management and structure
• Scotland Executive Board
• Forestry advisory bodies

Who are we?

• Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) - part of Scottish Government that takes care of forestry policy.
• Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES) - an agency of the Forestry Commission, managing Scotland's National Forest Estate.
• Shared services and Forest Research support Forestry Commission Scotland.

Our mission statement

To protect and expand Scotland's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment.

Funding and direction

The Scottish Parliament approves our funding. Scottish Ministers -  through our Board of Commissioners and our National Committee for Scotland - direct our work. 

Working with the Scottish Government

We work with the Scottish Government to deliver the Scottish Forestry Strategy. Our work helps in other areas, too. Forestry is good for the environment and climate change, energy, biodiversity and healthy living. It also contributes to rural transport as well as tourism and education.

• Fergus Ewing MSP is Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity.
• We are also a partner in Scotland's Environmental and Rural Services (SEARS).

Open data policy

We also support the Scottish Government’s Open Data Strategy. Our Open Data Publication Plan (PDF 1MB) lets other people make use of some of the data we hold. This helps people to understand how we work and offers opportunities to use the data in new ways to create social and economic benefits

FCS management and structure

• Our Management Board steers how we work. It also steers how we relate to other organisations and stakeholders.
• Five conservancy offices advise private land owners about regulations and grant support.
• Forestry Commission Scotland organisational structure chart (PDF 1.1MB)

Scotland Executive Board

The Scotland Executive Board comprises senior officers from FCS and FES. Together, they decide upon issues that are relevant to both arms of the organisation.

• Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES), an agency of the Forestry Commission, manages Scotland's National Forest Estate.
• FES Management Board gives strategic direction to 5 Forest Regions (formerly 10 Forest Districts).
• The regional teams look after woodlands on the National Forest Estate. This includes designing forests and planting trees. The teams also market timber and provide public access.
• FES works to a framework document (PDF 279KB) and aims to meet targets set out in the FES corporate plan
• How FES manages your forests is set out in the strategic plan for the National Forest Estate
• The recreation framework sets out priorities for managing recreation on the National Forest Estate.

Advisory Bodies

We co-ordinate the Scottish Forestry Forum and five Regional Forestry Forums. The forums advise us on a broad range of forestry matters.

A Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) whose role is to adjudicate on disputed applications for grants or felling licences and in disputes by statutory bodies arising from Forest Enterprise Scotland design plans.