How Scottish Forestry is using drones to improve tree health monitoring and field operations

• Scottish Forestry began using drones in 2023 after receiving positive feedback from partners like Plant Health England.

• Drones were chosen for their ability to inspect treetops quickly and safely, capture high-resolution imagery, and reduce reliance on costly or invasive methods.

• A clear policy and training framework was developed to ensure safe and compliant drone operations.

• The Tree Health Team uses drones to monitor diseased trees and carry out field inspections more efficiently.

• A Conservancy trial tested drone use for broader forestry work beyond tree health monitoring.

• Early results show improved response times, reduced field risks, and cost savings.

• "I have discovered that flying drones commercially has been increasingly useful as we become more skilled in pushing parameters and discovering more ways we can use them in the industry." - Jack Mackay, Tree Health Programme and Risk Manager and CAA Accountable Manager at Scottish Forestry.

Scottish Forestry is the Scottish Government’s forestry agency responsible for policy, regulation and support for the sector. Since 2023, they have used drones to support the Tree Health Team with monitoring tree health across forests covering Scotland.

This case study explores how and why Scottish Forestry chose to adopt drones, the policies they followed to ensure compliance with current regulations, and the known outcomes of the Conservancy trial, due to be completed at the end of June 2025. 

We review drone performance during key tasks, share user feedback, and outline how to run an effective drone programme for forest management.

Project at a glance

In 2023, Scottish Forestry trained four remote pilots and acquired three DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise drones to support tree health monitoring and meet regulatory responsibilities.

The decision was spurred from positive feedback from partners such as Forestry and Land Scotland, Forestry England, Forest Research, and Plant Health England. All of whom had reported success using drones for similar applications.

Tree Health Programme and Risk Manager and CAA Accountable Manager at Scottish Forestry, Jack Mackay shared:

"I was expecting some sort of classroom briefing, but me and my colleagues were straight out into a field and flying from the off on day one! Immersing us straight into supervised flying was certainly the best way for me to learn how to handle the drone, and the instruction and support from the Heliguy trainers was tailored to our individual progress."

Drones were chosen for their ability to quickly and safely inspect treetops, capture high-resolution imagery, and reduce the need for more costly or invasive methods.

After gaining the required authorisation and introducing a formal operations manual, the team began using drones for tasks such as disease mapping, species surveys, and site inspections.

Following early success, a Conservancy trial was launched to assess drone use in broader forestry regulatory operations, including compliance checks, felling assessments, and woodland creation monitoring.

What makes drones useful for forestry applications?

Drones are becoming an essential tool for modern forestry operations. Their ability to capture high-quality data quickly, safely and cost-effectively makes them ideal for tasks that would otherwise require significant time, labour or specialist equipment.

In Scottish Forestry’s case, drones have improved tree health monitoring by enabling rapid visual assessments, mapping diseased areas, and supporting evidence gathering for compliance inspections.

Tasks that once required multiple site visits or even helicopter support can now be completed in a single drone flight.

The DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise is well suited for these applications. Its compact size and portability allow quick deployment, even in remote locations, while its dual-camera system supports both broad mapping and close-up inspection.

Why the Mavic 3 Enterprise is ideal for forestry operations:

• High-resolution wide camera: The 20MP 4/3 CMOS sensor with mechanical shutter enables accurate mapping and reduces motion blur, ideal for surveying tree canopies and producing clear orthomosaics.

• Tele camera with 56x hybrid zoom: Allows detailed inspection of specific trees or problem areas without needing to fly close to the canopy.

• Long flight time: Up to 45 minutes of airtime increases coverage per mission and reduces downtime.

• Obstacle avoidance: Omnidirectional sensors help maintain safety in cluttered forest environments.

• RTK compatibility: When paired with the RTK Module or D-RTK 2 Mobile Station, the drone can deliver centimetre-level mapping accuracy for precise forest data.

From monitoring tree health to inspecting storm damage, and verifying planting claims, drones like the Mavic 3 Enterprise offer forestry teams a flexible and efficient solution to manage their landscapes with greater insight and control.

Navigating drone policy and regulations 

Since December 2023, Scottish Forestry has followed an approved ‘UAS PDRA01’ Operations Manual.

This document outlines the organisation’s procedures, safety protocols and technical requirements needed to meet Civil Aviation Authority authorisation under UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and CAP 722H. The authorisation is reviewed annually and forms the foundation for all commercial drone activity within the organisation.

Alongside this, Scottish Forestry created an internal policy guide that serves as a mandatory standard operating procedure. It applies to all staff and any third parties operating drones on behalf of the organisation.

Scottish Forestry’s Jack Mackay remarked:

 "I have discovered just how complex and iterative aviation legislation is regarding flying drones in the same airspace and under the same legislation as the biggest of airliners! Even the cheapest and lightest of drones is subject to the same legislation, even if its applied differently – and so keeping up to date with those changes particularly flying under PDRA01 is testing. Again Heliguy have been very patient and supportive."

This internal policy sets a high bar for pilot competence. Remote pilots are expected to exceed basic requirements to ensure they can safely respond to unexpected changes in flight conditions, avoid hazards in the air or on the ground, and operate confidently in complex Scottish airspace.

By setting strong operational standards, Scottish Forestry aims to improve safety, and as a result see an increase in the effectiveness of drone missions and ensure reliable data collection.

Tree health monitoring with drones

With policies in place, Scottish Forestry moved ahead with drone deployment.

In the first full year after training, the three Tree Health officers flew 51 operational missions and completed 65 training and currency flights.

Examples of operational missions included:

• Mapping larch trees infected with Ips cembrae

• Confirming Phytophthora ramorum infection following ground surveys

• Locating symptomatic larch where coordinates were unclear, avoiding the need for helicopter re-tasking

• Surveying diseased Scots pine and immature pine trees

• Inspecting Lodgepole pine and Douglas fir stands

• Conducting juniper health assessments

The drone team regularly practises to keep their skills sharp, and reach out to Heliguy for guidance when needed.

CAA Accountable Manager Jack Mackay said: 

"I have used the materials we were given access to on the course often for reference, and equally often I have emailed the Heliguy team either directly or via the course portal for guidance or clarification, each time receiving a super quick response which is clear and gives me confidence to make decisions as my organisations Accountable Manager. Really impressive!"

Conservancy drone trial

Following the success of the Tree Health Team’s drone operations, Scottish Forestry expanded its use of drones to the Conservancy team. 

Interest in this technology had grown during a Strategic Operations Group meeting, where Conservators expressed a desire to explore how drones could support their own work.

As a result, a Conservancy trial was launched in October 2024 which has so far tested the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise, Mavic 3 Thermal, Phantom 4 Multispectral and Air 2.

The aim was to assess how drones could be used in a wider operational context, distinct from the work of the Tree Health Team. The trial is scheduled to conclude soon, with outcomes and recommendations to follow.

Tasks within the trial have included:

• Resolution and image quality testing

• Woodland Creation inspections and Forestry Grant Scheme compliance checks

• Aerial photography and videography

• Statutory Plant Health Notification compliance inspections

• Safe inspection of windblown trees requiring felling authorisation

• Capturing images of unauthorised felling

• Stocking density assessments

Results so far

During 2024–25, all seven remote pilots flew a combined total of 76 hours and 53 minutes, averaging 11 hours per pilot. Across the year, 332 drone flights were completed.

Jack Mackay reflected on the project:

"My career has covered most aspects within the forest sector to a greater or lesser extent, but I have discovered that flying drones commercially has not only been increasingly useful as we become more skilled in pushing parameters and discovering more ways we can use them in the industry, but it’s actually a lot of fun too! Learning this completely new skill later in my career has also been exciting for me, and has given me a personal boost!"

Although drone use within Scottish Forestry is still in its early stages, results have already shown clear benefits. The Tree Health Team, in particular, has seen improved response times and reduced reliance on resource-heavy methods.

Previously, investigating a suspected dead or dying tree top could involve three separate site visits, coordination with felling teams and extended supervision — all adding time, cost, risk and carbon emissions.

With drones, officers can now capture high-resolution imagery in a single visit, enabling quicker analysis and often eliminating the need to fell the tree.

In sensitive areas, such as electricity power line zones where tree felling may be delayed or restricted, drones offer a safe and efficient alternative for investigation without disturbing the site.

These examples show how drones are already streamlining forestry operations and reducing the operational burden on staff.

Conclusion

Scottish Forestry’s adoption of drone technology marks a significant step forward in modernising forest management.

Through a structured training programme, strong internal policy, and ongoing collaboration with heliguy™, the organisation has built a safe and capable drone team. 

From initial inspections to expanded trials across Conservancy work, early outcomes point to time and cost savings, enhanced data collection, and more responsive decision-making.

This case study shows that with the right approach, drones can become a powerful tool for delivering smarter, more sustainable forestry management.

Contact us

If you think your operations could benefit from drone technology in forestry, get in touch with the heliguy™ team. 

Our experts can help you choose the right drone, provide certified training, and support you with regulations and policies. We offer both purchase and rental options to suit your needs.