© 2021 Institute of Chartered Foresters. All Rights Reserved
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 At the Institute we’re feeling grateful – not just for the Christmas break (though that is definitely welcome) but to look back on a year we can […]
The Agricultural Transition Plan published on the 30 November is vital reading for foresters. It really does herald a revolution in land management incentives (and to a lesser extent regulation) and outlines how the different schemes and components will interact, including the Environmental Land Management scheme. Some of the biggest developments are reductions in direct […]
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 This month we have been mostly looking ahead, taking time to be more strategic and proactive in our policy work after a year that has forced us […]
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 […]
With the Brexit transition period ending on 31 December, there are going to be certain changes that businesses and governments will have to prepare for. In light of this, we were pleased to offer three webinars in November that focussed on different areas of the industry, what changes will be needed and how the sector […]
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 We’ve had a meeting with the forestry policy leads in Defra to discuss our concerns about the critical skills shortage in the sector. They have asked us […]
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 […]
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 […]
The England Tree Strategy is an immense opportunity, with high risk and reward On behalf of our members and the profession, we have responded to the consultation on the development of an England Tree Strategy. Along with the questionnaire, we wrote a covering statement setting out our position as an organisation. Read our Response Our […]
The England Tree Strategy presents a huge opportunity to shape the future of England’s treescapes while combatting the climate and nature crises. With the consultation closing on Friday 11 September, we have been working with the Royal Forestry Society and Confor to produce a forestry sector response highlighting six priorities for the strategy going forward. […]
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 This summer, we’ve had two significant policy developments, both presenting a huge opportunity for the future of trees and woodlands, so this is where we’ve focussed our […]
The Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMs) will transform the way foresters, farmers and other land managers are supported. The Institute has led on a response to the Government’s ELMs consultation to produce a forestry sector response, partnering with Confor, the Royal Forestry Society and the Woodland Trust. The scheme is set to completely overhaul the […]
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 With the launch of the England Tree Strategy consultation, we have put together a blog on our activities on the strategy and how you […]
Defra has launched a consultation on the new England Tree Strategy which calls on the views and knowledge of (in particular) foresters and land managers. This strategy has been a long time coming and it is a huge opportunity to shape the future of England’s treescapes. What can you do? Respond to our survey to […]
We’re pleased to now be a member of the Environmental Policy Forum, a network of UK environmental professional bodies promoting environmental sustainability and resilience for the public benefit. A by-invitation-only membership group, the forum was established to provide the opportunity for collaboration, learning, dialogue and debate amongst professionals across the environmental disciplines and is currently […]
The beginning of a formal process to review and, if thought necessary, revise the UKWAS certification standard was announced on 1 July by the UKWAS steering group. The current 4th edition of the UK Woodland Assurance Standard, known as UKWAS 4, has been in effect since 1 April 2018 and in accordance with the UKWAS procedures, […]
Our monthly policy roundup blog updates you on what the Institute has been getting involved in and what you can get involved in too. England Tree Strategy Defra launched the long-awaited England Tree Strategy on Friday 19 June and there is plenty for our sector to respond to with the opportunity of influencing future policy […]
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 We are refining plans for the Institute’s policy strategy and resulting workstreams We published the results of our COVID-19 survey. Read them here We have analysed results […]
We’re excited to introduce the first monthly policy roundup blog – bringing you updates from what the Institute has been getting involved in and what you can get involved in too. Policy Strategy Council approved our new policy strategy at the end of March so we can really push forward with the work we’ve been […]
The Accelerating Woodland Creation conference on March 25 highlighted what should be done for England to fulfil a meaningful share of the UK’s ambitious goal of 30,000 hectares of new woodland per year until 2025. The UK Climate Change Committee has suggested that net zero will only be possible if this level of planting can be sustained […]
On Wednesday 24 June 2020, Defra reopened the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme consultation, after it was paused in early April due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This scheme will transform the way foresters, farmers and other land managers are supported, replacing the payments and grants set up under the Common Agricultural Policy. The way in […]
Updated: 21/04/20 The Institute has received a significant number of enquiries from our members seeking clarification around the recently implemented restrictions on working practices. The government has not stipulated that all businesses should close and have advised that people can go to work if they cannot do so from home. The UK Government’s document, Staying […]
The Scottish Parliament is currently considering the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill. Arguably, this is the most significant piece of forestry legislation since the Forestry Commission was created in 1919. ICF members with any concerns about its impact have until 16 August to submit their views to the Scottish Parliament – to do this […]
The tree improvement charity Future Trees Trust are working with Confor, the Forestry Commission and Forest Research to develop a National Tree Improvement Strategy (NTIS) for the whole UK forestry sector. As Forestry Commission’s funding for tree improvement – conifer and broadleaf – is likely to diminish in the next five years, the consortium is […]
Throughout 2016 the ICF blog has showcased member opinions on the maelstrom of political and other changes and what they have meant for forestry and arboriculture. As the year draws to a close, ICF Executive Director Shireen Chambers FICFor looks back on the most important events and their impact on the sector. The winter of […]
The recent government consultation on the future of Scottish forestry has left significant uncertainty among the ICF membership and the wider sector. In our latest guest blog, Ian Thomas MICFor, Partner at Landmanager.eu, offers his thoughts on the future of UK forestry. Monopoly, Oligarchy, Cartel. All words with negative connotations for most people, unless of course […]
© 2021 Institute of Chartered Foresters. All Rights Reserved