Scotland

Scotland used to cover 80% of the land 2000 years ago, but several causes lead the country towards deforestation. After World War I, the forest covering rate fell down to 5% and in 1918 the British government faced with national security suggestion of a tree less country to re-establish tree plantations. By the end of 1980, the government published specific and clear environmental guidelines, but they showed no effect. The original plant bio-diversity of Scotland was a lot more than what it is today. Below woods and above the rivers there used to be Elm, Ash, Oak, Guelder Rose, Spindle, Gean, Raspberry, Bramble, Elder, tree Willows and Osier. On the high-level ground there were many native woods of Holly, Hazel, Sessile Oak, Hawthorn, Bird Cherry, Aspen, Pendulous Birch, Goat Willow, Ash, and Common Alder. In the direction of liven up this listing of species, a Scottish Natural Heritage Ranger gave the following statement in 1997: "Much of the forest would have been tangled and irregular due to the natural wastage, disease and physical forces of wind, fire, and floodwaters. From what we know of northern Canada, Russia, and Poland, at any time up to 60% of the forest trees and bushes would be dead or dying, providing a habitat for thousands of different kinds of fungi, ferns and flowering plants, insects and other invertebrates, mammals and birds."