January 09 

Welcome to this month's E-news and wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year. 

While we all know how important our ICF chartered status is, it's good to have this reiterated. A new report charts that professional qualifications and membership have a real monetary worth of over £150,000 (see ICF News).

We have a new face here in our offices in Edinburgh. Finlay MacDonald has replaced Betsy Andrews as our Administration and Marketing Assistant and you will be able to meet Finlay at the ICF National Conference in April.

And, as always, please do use the ICF Members' Area Discussion Forum to exchange views with fellow members or alternatively email ICF.

shortcut to sections - click on headings below:

ICF News | General News | Developments

Consultations  | Events & Training

ICF urges members to respond to Scottish Climate Change and National Forest consultation
Please get your comments on this important consultation to Shireen Chambers by Friday 16th January as all responses must be received by the Scottish Government by the 27th January. Go to the "Consultations" section of E-news to download the document.

Your ICF membership is worth £152k
That's one of the findings of a new report commissioned by the Consultative Committee for Professional Management Organisations (CCMPO), an informal partnership comprising eight leading professional bodies in business disciplines.
"An Economic Impact Assessment of the CCMPO" shows that the estimated lifetime economic benefit associated with holding professional qualifications and membership of a professional institute is around £152,000 in today's money terms. That's £81,000 from holding professional qualifications, and £71,000 from holding membership of a professional institute.
It also shows that employers place a high value on the skills provided by professional bodies evidenced by the high levels of employer-funded education and training, the substantial wage premium (estimate circa 37% over a working life) and the increased likelihood of being employed if you have a professional qualification or a membership of a professional body. Read the report

Donald is top of the class
ICF North Scotland Chairman Graham Hamilton presented the ICF award for Best Student for UHI Millenium Institute's BSc Sustainable Forestry Management degree course to Donald Longden at the Scottish School of Forestry in Inverness yesterday.  The actual certificate could not be located - an absent secretary had put it somewhere 'safe'.  So Donald was presented with an empty envelope! The £50 prize and the certificate was duly sent to Donald shortly after.

And the Silvicultural Prize winners are.
ICF is pleased to announce that the winners of the  2008 The Silvicultural Prize are J. P. Skovsgaard and J. K. Vanclay for their paper "Forest site productivity: a review of the evolution of dendrometric concepts for even-aged stands" [Forestry, 81(1):13-31].
This paper is a review of forest site productivity and examines its three basic tenets: the height-age site index, Eichhorn's rule and the thinning response hypothesis. The paper develops the concept of yield level, the stand volume growth per unit of height growth and examines how it may be used to adjust height-age-based estimates of site productivity. Download this paper

ICF Study Tour Survey  
Thank you to everyone who took a few minutes to complete the survey. From the results it is clear that members want shorter Study Tours on practical forestry issues and competitively priced. We will be announcing the dates of this year's study tour shortly.

The Institute has designs on trees
ICF has joined the Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG), a unique multi-disciplinary group of individual professionals and organisations from both the private and public sectors. They have come together under The London Tree and Woodland Framework to collaborate to achieve an increased awareness of the need to bridge the practicality gap that exists between the aspirations to include trees within the built environment and the practical requirements needed to achieve this.
TDAG is to publish a set of guidelines targeted for the various professionals who deal with trees and the built environment in their work. The first of these guidelines, "No Trees, No Future" Trees in the Urban Realm, was launched last November at a reception held by The Tree Council to mark the start of National Tree Week 2008. Download the guidelines

Another benefit for members
As part of ICF's membership of the Commonwealth Forestry Association, we can now give you access to CFA's quarterly news letter. A dedicated page for ICF members can be accessed here where you will find the latest edition. It contains details of the new CFA Young Foresters Award 2009 aimed at the professional development of foresters under the age of 35.

Vacancies
There are currently no vacancies in the ICF Members' Area. 

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Scottish Rural Development Programme report presented to Minister
George McRobbie, a former President of ICF, together with a core working group from ConFor, has presented a SRDP review report to Scottish Environment Minister Michael Russell.  The report focused on 11 key recommendations which the Minister indicated he would implement without delay.
James Simpson, Forestry Commission Scotland, is tasked with reporting on a delivery plan with timescales. Download the report  

Prime Minister launches Eliasch Review
Gordon Brown launched the Eliasch Review into deforestation saying that the investment into the environment could offer a "route out of the current economic downturn". He added that efforts to preserve the forests should be "just as forceful and determined" as efforts to develop green technology.
In his review, Johan Eliasch, the Prime Minister's Special Representative on deforestation and clean energy, calls upon the international community to enable rainforest countries to halve deforestation by 2020 and make the global forest sector carbon neutral by 2030. More

Greenfield Forest declared England's newest Red Squirrel Reserve
The first red squirrel reserve in England since 2005 has been designated at Greenfield Forest in the Yorkshire Dales. Red Alert North England partners, including the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the Forestry Commission and the Save Our Squirrels project, will work with UPM Tilhill, managers of the forest at Langstrothdale, to implement new management guidelines for the reserve.
George Hay MICFor, North West District Forest Manager, UPM Tilhill, said: "Greenfield's size (over 1000 ha), species distribution and robustness make it a valuable site capable of supporting a large and healthy red squirrel population." Richard Pow MICFor, from the Forestry Commission and Chairman of Red Alert North England, added: "These reserves represent the focal points for red squirrel conservation and are critical in the fight to save the species in northern England."

It's plane sailing for Tree Council as MP plants tree on Millbank
The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, answered the challenge from The Tree Council to green the future by joining its Director-General Pauline Buchanan Black to plant a four metre high London Plane tree on Millbank. By planting a large-growing tree that will give shade and soak up pollution in a city centre location, they hope to promote greater recognition of the social, environmental and economic value of trees and send a clear message that the built environment must accommodate more new large landscape trees.  

Clarification on new RFS Awards
Last month we reported on the new Royal Forestry Society Excellence in Forestry Awards. We have since had clarification that these will initially be open to woodland and forestry owners and managers across Yorkshire and the North East. The Awards, which have been launched by the RFS in association with the Forestry Commission, will then be rolled out across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on a seven-year rotation. Email Trefor Thompson for information.

Don't miss the deadline for Scotland's Finest Woods Awards
The closing date for entries to the 2009 Scotland's Finest Woods Award is 27 March 2009. The Awards identify and reward those woods and forests that are special, that are managed to the highest standards and are exemplars of our modern forest or woodland heritage; be it the quality of trees, the contribution to natural habitats or a wider environmental contribution: woods that are special.
If the woodlands that you own or manage meet these criteria, you can enter the 2009 Awards. The Awards Flyer sets out the four award categories and gives information on how to enter.  Download Entry Form

York team wins award for new plant analysis service 
A team from Central Science Laboratory (CSL) and Defra's Plant Health & Seeds Inspectors (PHSI) has won the prestigious 2008 Whitehall & Westminster World Civil Service Award for Science and Technology for innovative work that has seen a £400,000 cost saving and a 70 per cent reduction in the need to send suspect plant samples for analysis to CSL's laboratory near York.
The team developed two infield testing methods using a piece of equipment called a Smartcycler and lateral flow devices (LFDs), which resemble and work in a similar way to a home pregnancy testing kit. Since 2002, PHSI have submitted around 33,000 plant samples to CSL in their campaign against two devastating forms of the plant disease Phytophthora. By using a combination of the Smartcycler and LFDs, Plant Health Inspectors can determine if the disease strains are present in a plant at the nursery or the port of entry, and then only need send suspect samples for further analysis. More   
 
Arb Sector Fights Crunch
Arboriculture contractors are bracing themselves for tougher times ahead but are holding out against the worst fallout from the economic downturn. Contractors said they were keeping a watchful eye on work for developers hit by the credit crunch and smaller-scale domestic projects.
Arboriculture Association director Nick Eden MICFor said feedback from members showed arborists' order books were two weeks ahead instead of the norm of about six. "Generally speaking, people's books aren't so full, but firms are not at the stage where staff are killing the time sitting in the yard. Many have long-term council contracts, and they will be stronger in a recession. People still have responsibilities - highways clearance, tree stability and safety."

Tree Decay Study Combines Arboriculture with Science 
Arboriculturists could soon benefit from greater evidence on the causes of tree decay following a plan to combine science with day-to-day working. A study, led by Treework Environmental Practice (TEP), that will examine tree failure and its links with soil deficiencies, is set to begin in the coming months.
Neville Fay, TEP principal consultant, said, "We are making a link with a laboratory that specialises in organics and will provide - very cheaply - biological tests on soil. We do see it as something that would be a benefit for arboriculturists as whole, particularly as it will create a standard protocol that we can share."

A rural first for Humber
Humber Rural Partnership's new "Rural Strategy for the Hull and Humber Ports City Region" will be launched on 13th February 2009. The first of its kind, it identifies a clear rationale for the production of a discrete rural strategy to inform sustainable economic development within a city regional context. It examines the critical policy contexts and identifies the Rural Humber's distinctive features (in respect of landscape, agriculture economy and society) and their current or potential contribution to the development and sustainability of the City Region as a whole and a full Implementation Framework for the strategy will be completed prior to the launch event. For more information contact Colin Walker

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Green future for England's trees, woods and forests 
The Delivery Plan 2008-2012 for England's trees, woods and forests, launched in December, has met with mixed emotions. The Plan commits to co-ordinated action from people who believe in creating sustainable, climate change resilient woodlands that will deliver real benefits for people, business and wildlife. The Forestry Commission and Natural England have joined forces with more than 100 organisations, representing woodland owners, forestry businesses, conservation and local communities to create this new 5-year action plan.  Download the Delivery Plan  

Funding to help hill farmers protect historic uplands
A new payment scheme that will reward hill farmers for protecting and enhancing the landscapes and environment of England's iconic uplands has been announced. The Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS) will replace the Hill Farm Allowance. Hill farmers will be rewarded for maintaining the biodiversity and natural resources of the area, which helps support the effort to fight and adapt to climate change, and for maintaining iconic features of the landscape such as dry stone walls and stone-faced hedge banks. Defra is prepared to make available up to £31 million within the existing Rural Development Programme budget to fund uptake of Uplands ELS. More

Businesses get helping hand in Yorkshire
Yorkshire Forward is making changes to the Rural Enterprise Investment Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England, to help businesses that may struggle to access the level of private finance, previously available to them, due to the current economic climate. The grant ceiling for project funding from the Rural Enterprise Investment Programme (REIP) budget is raised from £100,000 to £120,000 and the intervention rate for processing primary agricultural products is increased from 30% to 40%.
Yorkshire Forward aims to make a decision regarding grant investment within a month of submission of a completed application. More
Also, Yorkshire and Humber Business Link has launched a £1.4m healthcheck package of practical and paid support that will target where it will have the most impact. It will help those who are affected by the current market to survive and refocus. For businesses with opportunities, it will help to capitalise upon them so they can boost the overall economy. The package is only available until 2nd March 2009. Call 08456 048 048 or visit their website

Scottish Funds Available for wood fuel heating
A £2 million scheme to boost the use of wood fuel in Scotland used for heating is taking applications. The Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme will give grants of up to £100,000 to small and medium sized businesses to install renewable heating systems. It will also encourage the development of district heating demonstrators from private developers. The scheme will be managed in partnership between Scottish Government and Forestry Commission Scotland.  £2 million is available split equally between 2009/10 and 2010/11. Phone 01349 860 919 or visit: UseWoodfuel 

Defra submits evidence on climate change adaption
Defra's Adapting to Climate Change team has submitted formal written evidence to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) on behalf of the Government.
The RCEP study is looking at the institutional arrangements for adapting the UK to a changing climate. To help illustrate the issues, the RCEP asked for evidence on three exemplar areas: Biodiversity, nature conservation and protected areas; Sea-level and coastal zones; and Freshwater. As adaptation issues are often so wide in scope, and rely on interconnections with other policy areas, the ACC's evidence also covers issues relating to wider land management, planning, infrastructure and human health. More

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Leasing Scotland's forests could double woodland creation says Minister
The option to lease 25 per cent of national forests to forestry businesses could "more than double" current woodland creation rates in Scotland, Environment Minister Michael Russell said at the annual meeting of the Scottish Forestry Forum last month. Currently, around 4,000 ha of new woodland is created each year but under the new leasing option this could jump to 10,000 ha which would lock up an additional 200,000 tonnes of carbon annually by 2020 and potentially 1.2 million tonnes by 2050.
Mr Russell has given FCS staff a guarantee on jobs and given assurances that there will be no drop in forest management standards, no change to public rights of access and no reduction in the protection of the environment and biodiversity.
ICF will respond to the consultation (which ends 27th January) on behalf of members so please email your comments to Shireen Chambers by 16th January. Download the consultation

Climate Change (Scotland) Bill - proposals on forestry call for views
The Rural Affairs and Environment (RAE) Committee has issued a call for evidence on the provisions on forestry in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill and the accompanying Scottish Government consultation on forestry. This call is being targeted at stakeholders, although the views of all are welcome.
The RAE Committee is seeking views as a secondary Committee at Stage 1 of the Bill. This means that it will take evidence only on particular matters in the Bill that relate to its remit (which include the forestry proposals), and then report on these to the lead Committee; the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (TICC) Committee.
Timing is tight as the deadline is Thursday 29th January 2009. More  

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ICF Conference Discount ends 31st January
Please ensure to book for the ICF National Conference by January 31st to get the early bird discount. More

Free conference on carbon benefits of timber in construction
Last year Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) produced the "New Timber Architecture in Scotland" publication as part of the Timber Development Programme (TDP). As part of their ongoing delivery of the TDP, FCS has organised a conference on 28th January in Edinburgh to offer architects, planners, specifiers and those within the timber supply chain, the opportunity to further understand the potential for timber products to contribute positively to carbon management in construction. Places are free but limited. More

Wessex Silvicultural Group diaries 2009 meetings
On this year's theme "Minor Timbers", meetings will be held as follows: 26th March joint meeting with ICF South West Regional Group on Durable Timbers at Longleat Estate & Stourhead (Western) Estate: 21st May on PAWS restoration & stand transformation at Leigh Wood near Bristol ; 9th July on Productivity of minor species within the context of the National Park at The New Forest ; 28th October and incorporating the AGM at Westonbirt, Silkwood on Site adaptability, now & in the future.

Tree pests and diseases in the Chilterns
The Forest Research Annual Conference in the Chilterns will be held on 20th March at the Green Park Training & Conference Centre, Aston Clinton, Bucks.
Topics to be presented are: an overview: trees in the Chilterns; tree bacterial and fungal diseases (Dr Anna Brown, Forest Research); Insects damaging to trees: current problems and new threats (Dr Nigel Straw, Forest Research); Grey squirrel damage and control (Dr Brenda Mayle, Forest Research); Deer impacts and management (Jamie Cordery, Deer Initiative). The meeting will be chaired by Alan Betts, Forestry Commission. More

Forest Research confirms South Scotland Update Meeting
The annual Forest Research Update Meeting at the Northern Research Station, Roslin, will take place on Tuesday 17th March. More details will be posted on the ICF website as soon as possible. 

Losehill confirms training days
The Peak District National Park Authority's training arm, Losehill, has published its list of countryside and environmental courses for 2009. You can view the list of courses on the Losehill website.

Impacts of climate change on land-use function: Forest Research seminar, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh, 9th Jan. More  
Carbon Benefits of Timber in Construction Conference: Forestry Commission Scotland conference, Napier University (Craiglockhart Campus), Edinburgh, 28th Jan. More
Greenspace quality and quality of life: Forest Research seminar. 2pm - 3pm, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh, 30th Jan. More    
Management of Decaying Habitat: one day seminar organised by the ISA UK&I, York Club, Windsor Great Park, 5th Feb. More
Improved Conifer Timber Quality through Plant Selection and Silviculture: Forest research seminar, Birnam Arts & Conference Centre, Dunkeld, 11th Feb. More
ICF North Scotland Regional Group Meeting: The present and future use of Douglas fir, 2.00pm, Great Glen House, Inverness, 17th Feb. More
Understanding the carbon cycle of forest ecosystems - a data assimilation approach: Forest Research seminar, 2pm - 3pm, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh, 20th Feb. More
IGNITION09: The UK Wood Fuel Expo: The Sage, Gateshead, 11th Mar. More
Forest Research and climate change: Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh, 2.00-3.00pm, 13th March. More
Forest Research Annual Update Seminar (South Scotland), supported by the ICF: Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh, 17th March, all day seminar. More details to appear on the ICF website shortly.

Find details of Royal Forestry Society events at: RFS website

View full events list

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