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March 2010 |
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This month's ICF E-news top stories:
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shortcut to sections - click on headings below: |
| ICF News |
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ICF to appoint Development Officer International exchange at Forests & Energy conference
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| General News |
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Forests celebrated in 2011
The United Nations is designating 2011 as the International Year of Forests. Read More Forestry chief says public support vital to climate change fight
Tim Rollinson FICFor, Director-General of the Forestry Commission and Chairman of the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration, warned that the Earth needs its forests more than ever as climate change bites, but foresters must heed the needs of society if we are to realise their benefits. His message was part of the prestigious annual Forestry Lecture in Sustainability at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.  Briton's race to save treesForest Research scientist Matt Parratt is part of an international effort to save one of the world's rarest and most endangered tree species. Xanthocyparis vietnamensis is a conifer found only in a small corner of Vietnam and FR's seed germination techniques are key to its preservation. Read More
TDAG aims to sway decision makers
No Trees, No Future, the post-consultation guidance from the Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) aims to help decision makers select the right tree species, the right planting methods and the right aftercare. Read More Save Newton Rigg!
David Robson, Head of the National School of Forestry (NSF) at Newton Rigg, wants your views on the University of Cumbria proposal to co-locate its residential NSF students, currently in Penrith, with its campus in Carlisle for financial reasons. Join the petition or email Dave Robson. Drax gets cold feet Drax power station is having second thoughts on co-firing with biomass, and lays the blame on the government. A spokesman for Drax said that their progress is being held back by "the ineffectual subsidy afforded to biomass". Read More  Green champ for central Scotland networkKeith Geddes (pictured left) is the first Chair of the Central Scotland Green Network partnership board which is driving Europe's biggest greenspace project to make Scotland's central belt more attractive. Read More
FC renews regional committees
Nine Regional Advisory Committees who advise the Forestry Commission on how trees and woodlands can benefit the English regions have been renewed. A number of ICF members sit on these Committees. Read More
HM Revenue & Customs goes to pod HMRC has launched an audio Super Podcast to highlight changes to the business VAT, PAYE and corporation tax process. From 1 April, VAT-registered traders with annual turnovers of £100,000 or more must file their VAT returns and pay online, as will those registering from April. Select podcast.
Sustainable forestry finance toolkit launched PriceWaterhouseCoopers has a new decision support tool to help financial institutions manage risk and support sustainable forest management through their investments in forestry operations and in industries that impact forests. Read More  UK arboriculturists' vision for USAJeremy Barrell FICFor and David Cashman MICFor, from Barrell Tree Consultancy, Hampshire, flew the flag for the UK at the Ohio Tree Care Conference & Trade Show in Columbus. Jeremy gave a vision of arboriculture at the centre of sustainable community planning. Read More
New Ambassadors chosen from forestry sector Valerie Owen and Judith Webb, non-executive Directors of the National Forest Company, have been appointed to the Government's new Public Appointments Ambassadors programme. It encourages more people to apply for public appointments particularly from under-represented groups. Read More
 Ditch nets and spikes for robotic bird!Robop, a robotic peregrine falcon, does away with unsightly bird scaring tools. It's success lies in that it looks, moves and sounds like the real thing deterring other birds. Users include local authorities, banks and oil rigs. Read More National Forest boosts local woodland economy
The National Forest Company has commissioned Rural Development Initiatives to run Making Woods Work - a two-year programme designed to boost the economic potential of woodland businesses in and around the National Forest. Read More
 Study to define community woodland support needs UK charity Small Woods has been commissioned by Forest Research to research the community woodland sector in England with the aim of learning more about structure, funding, tenure, management objectives and future support needs. Local focus groups will be set up as part of the project. Read More University gets £150K for timber research
Researchers at Edinburgh have been awarded £150,000 to help boost the use of home-grown timber in UK construction. The funds are from ten UK timber and forestry companies and the Forestry Commission. Research will include investigation into the properties of Sitka spruce. Read More 100 years and counting
Finnish Forest Research Institute has begun a collaborative research project on how forestry could learn about natural disturbances on forests. The project aims to plan its forestry activities and long-term experiments reach up to 100 years ahead. Read More
 Bug tackles UK's knotty problemWildlife Minister Huw Irranca-Davies has given the go-ahead for the release of an insect to stop the spread of the non-native invasive plant Japanese Knotweed. Psyllid (Aphalara itadori) is a predator of the plant in Japan and acts as a natural form of pest control. This control method is new to Europe. Read More
Name change for MCPFE
The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, the pan-European policy process for the sustainable management of the continent's forests, is now called Forests Europe and it has a new website.
 Project guides climate change policy makers
Welsh forestry scientists from Aberystwyth are piecing together a charter of climate change principles which could transform the face of European woodlands. With their Catalonia and Latvian partners from the FUTUREforest project, they are pooling the best practice to help guide policy makers at European and regional level. Read More
Reading matters...
Download the summary of responses to the Forestry Commission's Study of the Public Forest Estate England . Issue 2 of IUFRO News is available for downloaded as a PDF or Word file here. The report, Shaping our future, shows how Government and third sector organisations will work together over the next five years to tackle key environmental issues such as climate change and sustainable development. |
| Developments, Grants & Opportunities |
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SRDP woodland creation grant updates English Woodland Grant Scheme deadline looms
Claims for 2009/2010 completed approved work must be submitted by 31 March to ensure payment is made. Payments for late claims will be at FC England's discretion as will applications for approved outstanding work/deferred work extensions. Read More
Tenders
South Wight Housing Association: Grounds maintenance and tree works including emergency call-outs for up to 10 years. Value: £625,000 to £750,000. Contact Neville Thomblin on 01983 539002 by 30 March.
Transpennine Housing: Wishes to set up a four-year framework for environmental works in North England. Email Robyn Payne by 22 March.
Forestry Commission Wales is inviting parties to tender for direct production harvesting contracts in North and Mid Wales totalling 50,000 tonnes. 15 contracts available - 4 thinning and 11 clearfell. Closes 13.00hrs 12 April. More Info
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| Consultations |
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Renewable Heat Incentive Lantra opens arboriculture apprenticeships consultation Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment |
| Events & Training |
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ICF in your region this month South East coppice conference
A conference to raise awareness of coppice woodland management in south east England, particularly the specialist hazel and chestnut industries, is on 6-8 October in West Sussex. It may lead to the formation of a national coppice association. Email Debbie Bartlett or call 01227 700627 Don't forget south Scotland FR Update
There are a few places left for the Forest Research Update Seminar on 17 March at the Northern Research Station, Roslin. Read More
Nature Exchange programmes on web
Study visits, funded by the Leonardo da Vinci programme are open to everyone working in natural heritage, conservation and land management sectors. Read More Timber Harvesting Techniques in Stands Managed under CCF Forestry Principles A two-day CCF Group course, on 12-13 May in the Wiltshire/Dorset Border, presented by Prof. Hanns Höfle from Göttingen, Germany, will focus on techniques used in both coniferous and broadleaved forests. Download flyer Yorkshire powers up for greener future
The Forestry Commission and White Rose Forest are holding a Renewable Heat Incentive scheme free consultation at Bradford City Hall on 15 March. It aims to explain the proposals and get feedback. Read More
ICF supports Environmental Finance conference
Forestry, Biomass & Sustainability: Investment opportunities and carbon reductions, in London on 13-14 May, will provide developments in policy, economics and financing of forestry and biomass projects, and identify new investment opportunities and risks. 15% discount for ICF members. Read More
Arb guru Mattheck on VTA update tour in May
Renowned arboriculturist Professor Claus Mattheck will tour the UK in May to present an update of his universally adopted Visual Tree Assessment (VTA), related tree engineering methodology, and his latest research. Talks will be hosted by Symbiosis Consulting in Hatfield (18 May) and Leicester (19 May) and by the Arboricultural Association Scottish Branch at Dunkeld (21 May). Details on the ICF website.
Fuel for thought
Small woodlands - Fuel for thought is a one day course on how the Woodland Enterprise Grant can help forestry micro-business within the West Midlands. It will run in four locations on 15, 16, 24 and 25 March and costs £10. Email Hartwoods for details.
Full details of the events below on the ICF website. MARCH 16 SSFIC meeting: Renewable Heat Incentive & Rural Priorities Opportunities - 6.00pm, Queens Hotel, Lockerbie
16 Warming up the Market: A renewable hear incentive event - 9.00am - 4.00pm, At-Bristol, Harbourside, Bristol
17 QTRA Licensed User Update (intermediate) Training - Paignton Zoo, Devon
17 Forest Research Spring Update Seminar - Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh
17 ICF North England Regional Group & ConFor on Forestry & Climate Change - Dalby Forest Visitor Centre, North Yorkshire
18 Certification of structural engineering design for timber frame housing - run by the CTE in collaboration with the Structural Engineers Registration
19 CAP Reform: Implications for Rural Development and Rural Land Use - 9.30am - 4.00pm, Devonshire Building, Newcastle University
19 FR NRS free seminar series - Climate change and tree distributions: past, present and future - Northern Research Station, Roslin
23 QTRA Licensed User Update (Intermediate) Training - Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
24 A Practioner's Guide to Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) Training - Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
24 ICF North Scotland Region on Sustainable Development in Sustainable Woodland - 2.00pm, North Kessock, Inverness
24 Free half day forestry Health and Safety workshop - Bin Forest, Huntly, Aberdeenshire
25 ICF East England Regional Group meeting: Stanford Battle Area - West Tofts Camp, Thetford, Norfolk
25 Opportunities for Ecological Restoration Conference: run by The Borders Trust, Peebles Hydro. Tel: 01835 830750
31/3-1/4 SAC & SEPA Conference on Climate, water and soil: science - policy and practice - Edinburgh APRIL
7-9 Land remediation and reclamation: approaches, applications and challenges - British Society of Soil Science Spring Conference, Reading, Berkshire
11-16 Inaugural International Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress 2010 - sponsored by Natural England, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia
13-15 FR seminar on Trees and forests in British society - Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton
28-29 ICF NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2010 on Forests and Energy: Maximising their Potential - Newcastle Civic Centre For more CPD events check the ICF website
For details of your local Royal Forestry Society events visit their website:
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ICF at sustainable build show
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