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Welcome to this month's E-news which is in a slightly different format to usual. If you have any feedback on the new look, please email Finlay MacDonald.
Please forward your E-news to your colleagues and encourage them to sign up for their own copy on the ICF website. Don't forget that you can view archived issues of E-news on the ICF website under Publications and Services.
As always, please do use the ICF Members' Area Discussion Forum to exchange views with fellow members or alternatively email ICF.
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shortcut to sections - click on headings below:
ICF News | General News | Developments
Consultations | Events & Training
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ICF News
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AGM
The AGM will be held in Cardiff on 23rd April. The Annual Report and, for members that are eligible to vote, ballot papers for the President and Vice-President elections will be dispatched next week.
ICF National Conference 2009
 Over 100 delegates are booked to attend this year's national conference on "Timber, Mutton or Fuel? Debating the economics of land use and forestry", 22nd-23rd April in Cardiff.
In the last month we have confirmed that Dr Peter Wood, the well respected forester and botanist whose wide experience includes farm, agro and tropical forestry, will address the conference. If you haven't already done so, there's still time to book online. Read More
ICF website review
We are currently reviewing the ICF main website and would welcome any feedback on how you think it could be improved. We are also seeking new photos for use on the website and in our publications. Please email your suggestions on website improvements , plus any photos that you can allow us to use, to Allison Lock.
Vacancies
Visit Members' Area of the ICF website for following job vacancies:
Forest Manager - North East Scotland
Forest Manager - Dartmoor (£23,718 - £26,098)
Invitation to Tender - Regional Timber Transport Project Officer- Scotland
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General News
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What is a Tree?
A High Court ruling has provided a new legal definition of what constitutes a tree and what this means for tree preservation orders. Read More
New Welsh Strategy launch date confirmed
The revised Woodlands for Wales - Wales Woodland Strategy - will be launched by Elin Jones, Minister for Rural affairs, on 27th March 2009. The Minister will be addressing the ICF National Conference in Cardiff next month and will introduce the new Strategy. Delegates will be provided with either a copy of the full document or an executive summary. Once launched, there will be a link to the strategy from the website.
PEFC to review sustainable forest core documents
PEFC International, the world's largest forest certification scheme, is calling on all stakeholders to nominate candidates for a working group dedicated to the revision of two of its core documents. The documents deal with PEFC's global criteria for sustainable forest management and its standard setting procedures at national level. Read More
 New Scottish Environment Minister in SNP Reshuffle
Roseanna Cunningham (pictured right) succeeds Mike Russell as environment minister, with resposibility for forestry, in Alex Salmond's first reshuffle since the 2007 election. Read More
Encouraging woodfuel use as key Scottish renewable
Steps to maximise the use of woodfuel in Scotland will deliver benefits for local economies, communities and the environment, according to the new Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, who said,"Woodfuel is uniquely suited to heat production and, because of its dispersal and constancy, is ideal for small and rural communities." Read More
Tree expert disappointed at lack of support
A year after the publication of the Trees in Towns II report, its co-author Dr Mark Johnston FICFor has said he is disappointed at the level of support it has received. Read More
Tree risks need sensible control
Following the news that the National Trust will not be prosecuted over a death of a schoolboy crushed to death by a falling tree, ICF Executive Director Shireen Chambers, who sits on the National Tree Safety Group, has urged people to take a sensible view of tree risk management. Read More
Sudden oak death spreads outside key area
Phytophthora ramorum (sudden oak death) has recently been confirmed on a sample of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) from a site near Biddulph in Staffordshire. Read More
Armed forces honoured with Memorial Arboretum
2,500 trees will be planted as part of a new community woodlands and Memorial Arboretum in the Bispham's Moor Park Avenue area of Fylde, Blackpool in honour of members of the Armed Forces. Read More
ConFor appoint new Head of Policy
ConFor has appointed Rupert Pigot as its new Head of Policy. Rupert, who started at the beginning of February, has taken on the role that Stuart Goodall filled prior to his appointment as Chief Executive.
Britain's tallest tree
Arboriculturalists measured Britain's tallest tree, known as the Stronardron Douglas Fir, in Argyll, Scotland, as part of the Tall Trees Project 2009. They found it dwarfed Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, which stands at 51.6m, climbing as high as 63.79m. Read More
Tree planting in London
New trees have been planted in the Sumner Buildings garden on Great Guilford Street in London as part of the Better Bankside's Urban Forest Initiative. The 11 trees have been funded through the community strand of the Forestry Commission's London Tree and Woodland Grant Scheme.
Boost for Scottish woodland planting
The Scottish government has submitted a notification to the European Commission to make changes to the Scottish Rural Development Programme 2007-13 for changes to the woodland creation scheme. Read More
Operator has close call with dangerous dead wood
A Polish operator in the North of Scotland had a lucky escape when carrying out felling to meet environmental guidlines. Although passing several feet away during moulding operations, vibration from the excavator triggered this potentially fatal event. Read More
Trees absorb fifth of carbon emissions pumped by humans
Trees are responsible for absorbing a fifth of man's climate change emissions, scientists have discovered. The study suggests trees are currently sucking up a significant amount of global pollution from factories and cars but if carbon emissions continue to increase, forests will die or even burn out, causing a "feed abck" effect that will accelerate climate change. Read More
Sir Martin Doughty
ICF is saddened to report that Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England, has died after a long illness. Read More
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Developments
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Timber transport fund benefits business, the environment and communities
Scotland's forestry sector was today urged to come forward and take advantage of the Scottish Government's £15 million Strategic Timber Transport Fund. Read More
Good news from the England Woodland Grant Scheme
Higher rates, higher percentage contributions, broader eligibility criteria, extended deadlines and a new Woodland Improvement Grants (WIG) scheme - such is the good news that was announced at the end of February. WIG, which started on 1st March, offers regionally targeted funding with 80% contribution to costs for key work areas. Read More
Funding to Protect Woodland Landscapes
Defra have announced £25 million of funding to support a five-year programme to manage and contain the risks of Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae from spreading further. Read More
FSC Controlled Wood Risk Assessment for the UK under Development
Forest Stewardship Council UK is commencing work on a controlled wood risk assessment for the UK. The first draft of the assessment will be made publically available at the beginning of May 2009, it will be sent to identified stakeholder consultees and will be published on the FSC UK website. Read More
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Consultations
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Views need on Argyll & Bute Forest & Woodland Strategy
John Little MICFor of UPM Tilhill is representing the private sector on the advisory group for the Argyll & Bute Forest & Woodland Strategy and is keen to receive initial views and information. He wants to involve as many relevant stakeholders in the consultation process for the Strategy. Read More
Have your say on water
The Environment Agendy need the views of forestry, agriculture and land mangers on their Consultation on Draft River Basin Management Plans for each of the 11 River Basin Districts in England and Wales. Read More
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Events & Training
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Spring study tour to Germany supported by CCFG - 31st March - 7th April
For full details of the study tour including prices amended since the February E-news please click here.
Improved conifer timber quality throough plant selection and silviculture
Presentations(slides) that were given at this seminar held in February 2009 are now available online here.
NSDC Leadership Lecture Series with Tim Rollinson FICFor
The National Sustainable Development Centre is hosting its 9th Sustainable Development Leadership lecture at St Andrews University on 23rd April 2009. The lecture will be given by Tim Rollinson, Director General and Deputy Chairman of the Forestry Commission on Today's Loss, Tomorrow's Gain: Restorig the Worlds Forests. Please book by 27th March to reserve your place by emailing Wendy Galloway. More
MARCH
11-12 IGNITION09 -
The UK Wood Fuel Expo, The Sage, Gateshead. More
11 As Cheap as (Wood) Chips, the Value of Urban Trees - South Staffs District Council Civic Centre. More
13 Forest Research and climate change - Understanding the carbon and GHG balances of UK Forestry, 2.00-3.00pm, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh. More
16-20 World Forest Week - FAO, Rome, Italy. More
17 Forest Research Update Seminar - Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh. More
20 Forest Research Annual Chilterns Woodland Conference - Tree pests and diseases, Green Park Training & Conference Centre, Aston Clinton, Bucks. More
24 South Scotland Forest Industries Cluster Meeting - Queen's Hotel, Lockerbie. More
25 Anaerobic digestion workshop - Reading, England More
26 ICF South West Regional Group & Wessex Silvicultural Group Joint Meeting - Longleat Estate & Stourhead (Western) Estate. More
28 Small Woods Association members meeting - Veteran Trees, 11.00am - 4.00pm, Hatfield Forest, nr Bishops Stortford, Herts. More
31-2 April Ignite wood fuel training course (West Yorkshire) - Myra Shay, Bradford. More
31-7 April Spring Study Tour to Germany-supported by Continuous Cover Forestry Group. More
APRIL
1-3 Health and recreation in forest and landscape (conference)
- Birmendsdorf, Switzerland. More
4 Small Woods Association Introduction to Woodfuel - Sustainability Centre, East Meon, nr Petersfield, West Sussex. More
7-9 Durham University conference:Well-being and place - Durham University, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees. More
18 Arboricultural Association Scottish Branch Meeting - Dawyck Arboretum, near Peebles. More
20 Hylobius Management Support System training day - organised by Forest Research, Inverness. More
22-23 ICF National Conference 2009: Timber, Mutton or Fuel? Debating the economics of land use and forestry - The Barceló Cardiff Angel Hotel, Cardiff. More
For details of Royal Forestry Society events visit:
RFS website
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