The Scottish Government has moved swiftly to refute claims Britain's national forests are to be sold off in an attempt to balance the public books.
According to reports, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman is expected to announce cost-saving plans to sell-off about half of the 748,000 hectares of woodland overseen by the Forestry Commission.
But her counterpart on the Scottish Executive, Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham has moved quickly to quash fears surrounding Scotland's forests, saying Westminster has no legal right to dispose of forests north of the border.
She added: "These media reports are very unhelpful and totally misleading. What is more, they are raising fears unnecessarily for the Scottish forestry industry and for the Commission's staff working in Scotland.
"Forestry is a devolved matter and has been for a number of years now. That means any decisions affecting the future of Scotland's national forests do not lie with Westminster but with Scottish Ministers. There is no review of Forestry Commission Scotland.
"The Scottish Government is committed to forestry in Scotland. We believe Scotland's national forests are a very precious asset. They provide employment, support the timber and tourism industries and have a major role to play in tackling climate change.
"There is an on-going review of the functions and operations of the Forestry Commission in England but I want to make it clear that this review does not and cannot extend to Scotland.
"I have already written to my counterparts in England and Wales suggesting that we meet very soon to discuss the implications of the Westminster Review which we were alerted to some weeks ago and about which we have considerable concerns."
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