SCOTLAND'S rural affairs ministers hailed the "expertise" of Scotland's chief forester as she was re-appointed to the role for another four years.
Dr Helen McKay's role includes providing technical and professional advice to the Scottish Government on Forestry matters and delivering policy, along with acting as head of profession for public sector foresters and promoting professional standards in the public sector.
The position of the chief forester for Scotland is a requirement of the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018.
Dr McKay is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, and a member of the Institute of Chartered environmentalists. She holds a BSC in Ecological Science, as well as a PHD in from Edinburgh University. She was awarded an OBE for her services to forest science and forestry.
She said: “My previous four years in the role have been extremely rewarding.
"It has also been challenging – I have been working with people in many different sectors to provide the best possible forestry education and training as well as promoting forestry as a worthwhile career for young people and career changers.
“I am keen to continue this collaborative work with other agencies and organisations so we can attract more people into forestry and develop skills right across the industry.”
She was first appointed in the role in 2020 and held the position for the maximum term of four years before the post must be openly re-advertised again.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon praised the chief forester.
She said that: “Her scientific expertise and knowledge of the various strands of forestry is extremely valuable, especially at a time when forestry’s profile and relevance to society has never been higher.”
Doctor McKay will start her re-appointment on the first of August this year and will spend around two days a week carrying out her duties.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here