Institute champions sustainable forestry across the UK
One of our greatest strengths as a professional body is our UK-wide remit and responding to consultations is an important way to influence policy and develop partnerships. We recently submitted a response to the UK Forestry Standard Review key stakeholder consultation to express our unwavering commitment to the UKFS and our support for the review […]
Strong public support for forestry in Scotland
Forest Research recently conducted the Public Opinion of Forestry 2021 in Scotland survey which found that the general public have strong support for forestry and recognise its role in delivering a range of environmental, economic and social benefits. Scotland is known for its stunning landscapes and the Scottish Government have ambitious plans to increase tree […]
Forestry workforce research – skills survey
Lantra, with the support of the Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh Government and Confor, have commissioned a study to review the level of skills and training at this pivotal moment within forestry. As the government commits to higher levels of new planting and markets for timber increase, it is vital that we understand […]
Consultation Opens on UKWAS 5 Draft
A consultation has been opened and we encourage members to comment on an Initial Revision Draft of UKWAS 5. The consultation draft has been prepared by a chamber-balanced working group reflecting economic, environmental and social interests taking full account of stakeholder input. Peter Wilson FICFor, Chair of the UKWAS working group, said: “This Consultation Draft […]
Institute Responds to EFRA Inquiry
The Institute has submitted evidence to a Westminster committee inquiry saying that government needs to address the skills shortage urgently in order to meet the challenges it faces, and not just for planting new trees but to meet objectives across the dual climate and nature crises. The Environment, Food and Rural & Affairs (EFRA) Committee […]
Environmental Policy Forum Publish Statement on a Sustainable Recovery Post COVID-19
As a member of the Environmental Policy Forum (EPF), we recently contributed to the EPF position statement on what a sustainable recovery should look like from the coronavirus pandemic. With views from six other organisations from across the environmental sector, we pleased to be able to stress the importance of a sustainable recovery and how […]
Dr Gabriel Hemery FICFor Speaks on Why Trees are Key to New Agricultural Revolution
In September 2020, Dr Gabriel Hemery FICFor CEnv spoke, on behalf of the Institute and the Sylva Foundation, at the Westminster Policy Forum’s online conference on the future of agricultural land use. “Better for food, better for nature, better for people – trees for life. Trees really can deliver for climate, nature, people and the […]
Policy Roundup – September 2020
Our monthly policy roundup blog updates you on what the Institute has been getting involved in and what you can get involved in too. Institute Policy & Research England Tree Strategy This month we issued two responses to Defra on the England Tree Strategy consultation – one on behalf of the Institute, and the other […]
Consultation Launched on Torymus Sinensis Use to Control Dryocosmus Kuriphilus
Dryocosmus kuriphilus is a harmful gall wasp of sweet chestnut trees and was discovered for the first time in the UK in June 2015 in Kent. Native to China, since spreading into Japan, the Republic of Korea, Nepal, USA, and many countries in Europe, as of March 2020, it has been detected in over 140 […]
Your Chance to Input on Four New Apprenticeships
The Arboriculture, Forestry, Horticulture and Landscape Apprenticeship Group has gained approval from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education to develop four new apprenticeships. Once complete, these will be supported by the Government’s apprenticeship scheme and will be available for training providers to offer across England. Employers, with the support of training professionals, have been […]
