A new list of 28 tree species for foresters to grow in the future marks a major step forward in helping our woodlands and forests adapt to the growing threats of climate change.
The list has been developed through extensive collaboration between Scottish Forestry, Forest Research, and a wide range of partners from across the forestry, conservation, and rural sectors.
The trees chosen highlights a diverse mix of species that have been carefully assessed against strict scientific criteria to ensure they can withstand changing conditions while continuing to deliver economic, environmental, and community benefits.
Announcing during Scotland's Climate Week, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon welcomed the publication of the list, saying:
“We’ve seen the very stark global effects of climate change with hotter and drier summers and warmer wetter winters. We must future-proof our forests for the future to ensure that they thrive and continue to provide multiple benefits.
“This new list isn’t just about timber production – which in itself is vital - it’s about ensuring our woodlands can survive in a future climate. Our woodlands also need to support biodiversity, lock up carbon, and provide the social and recreational and environmental benefits that communities value so highly.”
Helen Sellars, Scottish Forestry’s Head of Sustainable Forest Management, said that the trees that were chosen should give the sector the confidence about a range of species which are best to invest in for the future to help diversify our woodland resource.
“By drawing on the best available science from Forest Research and working in partnership with experts from across the sector, we’ve identified a range of species we can develop that offer resilience, productivity, wider benefits, and give options regionally across Scotland,” she added.
Each tree on the list has been chosen because it meets the agreed criteria and offers potential to contribute to Scotland’s woodland resilience.
The list also promotes diversity, encouraging a broader mix of tree species and silviculture for the future, and supports the recent change to 65% maximum one species in the UK Forestry Standard. Key species that underpin the industry and meet the criteria are still needed as part of the woodland mix.
Scottish Forestry commissioned experts from Forest Research to gather the scientific evidence to support the selection of trees.
In total, over 100 datasets were compiled and analysed in thorough detail and more than 100 experts and industry leaders were involved in pulling together the work.
Dr David Edwards, who led a team of 30 experts from Forest Research to carry out the scientific assessment of candidate tree species, said:
“We believe this is the most comprehensive assessment of tree species’ performance ever conducted in the UK and will provide a focus for research and development, helping shape Scotland’s forests for years to come.
“Essential to compiling the list was close collaboration with numerous forestry experts and managers from across the sector to capture their knowledge and experience.”
Andy Leitch, Deputy Chief Executive of Confor said:
“Confor welcomes the findings of the Scottish Forestry led exercise identifying potential future productive tree species accounting for changing growing conditions due to climate change.
“We look forward to working with others over the coming years to ensure these species can produce the volume and quality of timber required to meet future market demands in Scotland and beyond.”
Andrew Weatherall, Scottish Environment LINK Woodlands group added:
“These conifer and broadleaved tree species lists should help determine the future research focus and nursery seedling supply to enable foresters to plant diverse, resilient productive forests for domestic timber supply in Scotland.”
The new tree species list will continue to evolve as evidence grows, ensuring that it remains a living tool to guide woodland managers well into the future.
The work to produce a list of trees for the future stems from the Routemap to Resilience, published in March 2025, which set out a strategic direction for building woodlands that are more adaptable, sustainable, and capable of supporting both Scotland’s economy and its environment.
The Routemap also sets out the actions to be taken to invest in the development of these species to increase availability and use, such as seed supply and end use.
The Future Productive Species List includes 14 conifers and 14 broadleaves and are not ranked in any order of importance:
| Broadleaves |
| Alder - Common (Alnus glutinosa) |
| Aspen (Populus tremula) and Hybrid (Populus tremula x tremuloides) |
| Beech (Fagus sylvatica) |
| Birch - Downy (Betula pubescens) |
| Birch - Silver (Betula pendula) |
| Chestnut – Sweet (Castanea sativa) |
| Gean (Prunus avium) |
| Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) |
| Lime – Small-Leaved (Tilia Cordata) |
| Maple - Norway (Acer platanoides) |
| Oak - Pedunculate (Quercus robur) |
| Oak - Red (Quercus rubra) |
| Oak - Sessile (Quercus petraea) |
| Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) |
| Conifers |
| Cedar - Japanese (Cryptomeria japonica) |
| Cedar - Western Red (Thuja plicata) |
| Fir - Douglas (Pseudotsuga menziesii) |
| Fir - European Silver (Abies alba) |
| Fir - Grand (Abies grandis) |
| Fir - Noble (Abies procera) |
| Fir - Pacific Silver (Abies amabilis) |
| Hemlock - Western (Tsuga heterophylla) |
| Pine - Lodgepole (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) |
| Pine - Macedonian (Pinus peuce) |
| Pine - Scots (Pinus sylvestris) |
| Redwood - Coast (Sequoia sempervirens) |
| Spruce - Norway (Picea abies) |
| Spruce - Sitka (Picea sitchensis) |
