This paper criticised the application of forest policy in Scotland, UK, especially the activities of the Forestry Commission, the chief agency of the state and a major landowner in rural Scotland. The authors argued that forestry was not achieving its potential for rural development because, in spite of international agreements and stated national policy, the Forestry Commission retained many of the features of an outdated colonial forestry service, namely a top-down approach concentrating on commercial timber production. Efforts by local NGOs to implement the UNCED Forest Principles were being met with resistance by the Forestry Commission, who remained reluctant to relinquish their sole control over forest lands.