(1)The Scottish Ministers must manage forested land in a way that promotes sustainable forest management.
(2)The duty in subsection (1) includes, in particular, the use of forested land for—
(a)the economic development of forestry,
(b)the conservation and enhancement of the environment by means of sustainable forest management,
(c)the realisation of the social benefits of forestry.
(3)This section is subject to section 17(4).
(1)In this Act, “forested land” means—
(a)land in the national forest estate that is forested, and
(b)other forested land that is—
(i)owned by the Scottish Ministers, or
(ii)managed by the Scottish Ministers on behalf of another person.
(2)In this Act, “forested” includes undergoing afforestation.
In this Act, the “national forest estate” means land in Scotland—
(a)that was at the disposal of the Forestry Commissioners under the Forestry Act 1967 immediately before the date on which this section comes into force, and
(b)that is, for the time being, owned by the Scottish Ministers.