The Scottish government has met its annual tree planting targets for the first time. About 11,200 hectares of new planting was undertaken last year, a significant increase on 2017. Aforestation is seen as an important tool in tackling climate change but planting rates up until now have been low. Ministers plan to increase the target further in 2024, from 10,000 to 15,000 hectares. Increasing forest cover allows the trees to absorb more carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. The majority of the planting has been carried out by private companies with about 1,000 hectares coming from the government’s new agency Forestry and Land Scotland.