Institute responds to farming scheme updates
The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) welcomes the recent upgrade to farming schemes announced by the Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP on Thursday 4 January 2024. As the biggest update to the UK’s farming schemes since leaving the European Union, we’re pleased to see trees on farms moving up the agenda based on their wider benefits to business […]
Barbie and forestry? Bear with me…
The National Association of State Foresters (NASF America) were quick off the mark with the film release of Barbie in July 2023. They produced a suite of forestry careers in a Facebook post less than two weeks later! I have no idea if you ever had Barbies or have bought them in recent times – […]
Help design Woodland Condition Assessment guides and training
Woodland Condition Assessments (WCA) are used to assess the ecological condition of woodlands and can inform management decisions to benefit biodiversity and access grants/other support. To make make WCA more accessible, the charity Field Studies Council is working on a project with the Forestry Commission and other partners to produce training courses, guides and a […]
ICF and CIEEM publish paper on bringing more woods into management
Management of Existing UK Woodlands: An Opportunity for Green Prosperity Today we published a joint position paper with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) that calls on governments and agencies across the UK to bring about an urgent step change in the sustainable management of existing woodlands. Our organisations jointly represent the full […]
Institute signs EPF response to Environmental Outcomes Report consultation
As a member of the Environmental Policy Forum (EPF), we recently signed their joint industry response to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ consultation into Environmental Outcomes reporting. The response outlined four key concerns relating to how a new approach to environmental reporting can be delivered in practice: Missing details Absence of research […]
Policy Roundup – January 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news It has been a busy start to the year at the Institute. We are particularly excited to be working with the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) on a position […]
100 Days in Post – Louise Simpson, Executive Director
After taking over the role of Executive Director of the Institute at the start of July 2022, Louise Simpson looks back on her first 100 days in post… My first 100 days in post has flown by, but I have been enormously encouraged by the welcome and support the sector has shown me. There is […]
Have your say on the latest sector issues
Express your views on the UK timber industry, managing impacts of deer in England and land reform in Scotland How can we grow the UK timber industry and reduce global deforestation? The Environmental Audit Committee is seeking views on the sustainability of the UK’s timber industry and its links with imports of key […]
How can communities help make best use of Scotland’s forest and land?
How can we work with communities to make the best use of Scotland’s national forest and land? To find out, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) have launched a consultation that will help set out key principles and strategic priorities that will inform their new Communities Strategy. The new strategy will sit alongside FLS’s Visitor Services […]
What is the future of forestry regulation in England?
On Wednesday 20 April the Institute facilitated a cross-sector discussion with a range of leading organisations on proposals set out in the Nature Recovery Green Paper that potentially spell major changes to forestry regulation in England. The group discussed challenges with the process for Environmental Impact Assessments, permanency of woodland, and proposals in the paper […]