A six-year survey being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) to establish a complete record of the country's remaining native woodland has reached its first milestone.

FCS has now published the first eight summary reports that cover the local authority areas for Edinburgh; Glasgow; Dundee; North, South and East Ayrshire; Aberdeen and Renfrew. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is supporting attempts to compile the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS), which aims to record the extent, nature and condition of Scottish woodland areas.

Survey data will be made available online to allow woodland owners and managers, partner agencies and councils to help guide decision making, planning and management policies. Scottish environment minister Roseanna Cunningham said: "During the last 20 years or so, a lot has been done to protect these precious fragments and begin to reverse that decline.

"But if we are to see our efforts have the maximum effect, then we need to know exactly what resource we have to work with."