Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved.
Institute news
UKFS e-learning
This month we launched an accredited e-learning programme to help tree professionals get to grips with the latest edition of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS), which comes into effect in October. The course has been built by specialist e-learning programme developer adaptiVLE, using our new online education platform Silvestor (which was also developed by adaptiVLE). The script was produced by a technical authoring team, led by Chartered Forester Martin Glynn FICFor CEnv, and funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) Trees Call to Action Fund.
This is the first time the UKFS has been made available via an e-learning platform. This visually appealing and highly interactive programme has been accredited by Lantra and leads to certification upon completion. It has the backing of Forest Research, the Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Forestry and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). Read the fully story and sign up today.
WoodBUILD 2024
On the 2 and 3 July, our Technical Policy Manager, Shona Smyth MICFor attended WoodBUILD 2024, hosted by WoodKnowledge Wales at the IQ Campus University of Wales, Swansea. WoodBUILD engaged timber and construction industry stakeholders in a collaborative effort to build new, multi-disciplinary business opportunities and regenerative solutions. The first day focused on breaking down boundaries, with an opening ministerial address from Huw Irranca-Davies, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, with day two highlighting the importance of building co-creative relationships.
The day opened with a sector panel debate on how to create more resilient wood value chains, before delegates could engage in numerous workshops highlighting, education, timber properties, forest resilience and the National Wood Strategy. The event also celebrated the launch of two industry publications: ‘Timber! How wood can help save the word from climate breakdown’, by Paul Brennan, Director of Public Affairs for the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry and the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries and ‘Sitka the Amazing Timber Tree’, an audiobook and illustrated storybook written in Welsh and English by Jenny Bailey, sponsored by Morgan Sindall Construction.
Early Career Professionals Study Tour 2024
The 2 and 3 July also marked our Early Career Professional Study Tour in Tiverton, Devon. Our Senior Events Officer, Ella Smith and Senior Education and Outreach Officer, Dr Rob Hawkins attended the event, which hosted 23 delegates across four locations over two days, chaired by Ilona Coulson-Ashworth from South West Woodland Management.
The event provided an opportunity to meet and network with fellow early career professionals and gain invaluable continued professional development from experienced practitioners and project managers. Over the course of two days, topics explored included carbon markets, storage, and investments, but also Biodiversity Net Gain opportunities, resilience in planting and the planning of new woodlands and species mixes.
Forest resilience webinar series with Scottish Forestry
Thursday 4 July was the launch of our partnership Forest Resilience webinar series with Scottish Forestry. This eight-part webinar series aims to increase industry discussions and awareness of key resilience issues in response to our changing climate. The seminars will look at a range of climate change risks, climate change projections and some of the measures we can take to increase our resilience, designed to help improve awareness of the key climate change risks that affect forestry, how those risks are projected to change over time and some of the measures that can be taken to improve resilience.
RACE Summit 2024
On Friday 12 July, our Executive Director Louise Simpson attended the first-ever RACE Summit 2024: Racial Action for the Climate Emergency at the University College London, hosted by Sustainable UCL in partnership with Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK), Wildlife and Countryside Link and Diverse Sustainability Initiative.
The event brought together individuals and organisations committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse environment sector. Louise joined individuals from racially and ethnically minoritised groups, as well as other CEOs and leaders, to have the constructive conversations needed for collective growth. We are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive membership, as set out in our 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, but also to contribute wider to a more diverse and inclusive forestry and arboriculture sector.
Financing the Future: Using Green Finance to Drive Nature’s Recovery
To end this month, Shona Smyth MICFor attended the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s Summer Conference, Financing the Future: Using Green Finance to Drive Nature’s Recovery, on Tuesday 16 July. The online conference consisted of a full programme of speakers from varying disciplines within the green finance space, discussing the future of nature markets. One of the key messages from the University of Oxford was that no nature markets have yet achieved their environmental goals in the last 50 years, and we need to stop replicating mistakes of the past, yet we are starting to replicate systemic issues.
There are still fundamental tensions with public policy and issues with policy co-ordination. It was suggested by Environmental Bank that Biodiversity Net Gain will fail as a system if policy is left on site and the responsibility remaining with developers. With Greengage Environmental agreeing that it is not just about biodiversity, but cross realm measurements and we should be cautious of misuse with the risk of greenwashing. Though, this could be avoided by greater transparency and accountability. Biodiversity and nature credits are intangible assests, with Credit Nature developing technology to provide the quantification and assurance, needed to be transparent. These standards are planned to be approved under the developing Ecosystem Restoration Code, providing implementation and quantification standards. In addition, Forestry England are looking to develop a Green Finance Strategy alongside the Woodland Water Code.
Consultations & political advocacy
Responding to public consultations is an important way to influence policy. We consult with members as much as possible and often work in partnership with other organisations to strengthen our messages. We also produce papers on specific topics where it is important to publish our position.
This month we wrote to Steve Reed OBE MP, following his official appointment as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 July. We highlighted how the Labour government has ambitious plans for economic growth and opportunity expansion are indeed exciting, but they will undoubtedly present challenges, of which the forest and timber industry can help address, particularly the skills crisis, economic growth, and carbon goals. However, we were disheartened by the absence of recognition in Labour’s manifesto for the role of forestry and timber in supporting both the economy and the government’s carbon ambitions. Read our letter here. We have since received a response and await confirmation of a meeting date.
On 18 July, Mary Creagh (elected MP for Coventry East) was announced as Defra’s Minister for Nature, with responsibility for tree planting and forestry, and we plan to follow up with her to highlight our priorities and ideas in more detail.
Representation
Our representatives sit on groups, panels, and committees across the sector, actively participating, feeding back developments, and advising us on actions to take. The role of an ICF Representative is a crucial touch point between Institute staff, Council, and members. This month’s representatives’ updates:
The Institute would like to welcome Ewan Batchelor MICFor, Wildwoods & Forestry Ltd and Sasha Laing MICFor, John Clegg & Co as representatives on the Scottish School of Forestry – Forestry Advisory Committee. Ewan and Sasha take over from Claire Wightman MICFor, who stepped down from the position. We thank Claire for all her hard work and commitment to the group.
Special Interest & Steering groups
The Institute’s Special Interest Groups aim to represent the needs and interests of different areas in the sector and facilitate increased knowledge exchange. They work to provide relevant CPD and training for members around their areas of expertise, all whilst working towards a shared understanding of what professionalism means across forestry and arboriculture.
Our Nurseries Special Interest Group hosted their annual CPD event at Barcham Trees in Ely. During the visit, delegates had the opportunity to view the production of container grown trees, covering root and crown development of standard trees, root development in containers, irrigation and nutrition, formative and structural pruning, plant handling and biosecurity. In the afternoon there were presentations from guest speakers Sir Nicholas Bacon KCVO OBE FICFor (Hon), Professor Tariq Butt and Daniel Iddon FIMechE. At the event Imam Sayyed, Head of Plant and Seed Supply at Forestry England presented Nicholas with his Honorary Fellowship.
Following its successful establishment, the Institute’s Harvesting & Marketing Special Interest Group is looking for new members to join this dynamic group.
Are you wanting to foster relationships between commercial operations and the rest of the sector? Are you interested in raising awareness and the profile of harvesting and the wider timber sector? This is a fantastic opportunity to encourage engagement, tailor relevant CPD content and be a part of the Institute’s wider Stronger Voice:
- Build and enjoy a strong and active network that promotes the harvesting and marketing sector
- Support, design and deliver CPD events and related content that raises the profile of key issues and/or developments
- Engage with the wider industry by guiding the Institute on suitable social media campaigns
- Support the Institute with meeting members needs and active engagement with our strategy
- Add your voice to the development of long-term tree supply strategies for the sector.
The Institute aims to provide a professional home for all arboriculture and forestry specialisms and better understand our members’ needs. We are particularly encouraging early career professionals to express interest.
For more information and to express interest, contact Shona Smyth MICFor.
Sector news, guidance & reports
Ips typographus found on spruce tree in England for the first time
Forestry Commission
New letter to environmental NGOs from the UK Government on planning and infrastructure bill
Defra
Summary of responses published to the Sustainable Farming Scheme consultation in Wales
Welsh Government
Study suggests over 5,000 trees at Kew are at risk due to climate change
The Guardian
Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment comments on the action and policy needed after the King’s Speech
IEMA
FSC extends interim rule on the protection of Intact Forest Landscapes until June 2026
FSC
Community programme in Cornwall has planted one million trees since 2019
BBC
US Forest Service study explores the global land carbon sink
CIFOR-ICRAF
DAERA investigated for not publishing Environmental Improvement Plan
Office for Environmental Protection
UK’s progress in reducing emissions
Climate Change Committee
Concerns raised over ‘anti-forestry atmosphere’ in Wales
Forestry Journal
More strip felling carried out in North Scotland to maintain a more diverse forest structure and support biodiversity
Forestry Journal
Royal Forestry Society writes to Sir Keir Starmer
RFS
Guide published on EU Deforestation Regulation for businesses
WWF
Guidance for businesses on the responsible sourcing of forest products
WWF
Support for applying for the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund
Forestry Commission
The benefits of Continuous Cover Forestry in memory of Dr Bill Mason MICFor
Forestry Commission
New publication on the role of forest stewardship and achieving a sustainable future
FSC
Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee in Wales suggests changes to Farming Connect scheme to help farmers better understand and prepare for the changes
Welsh Parliament
Woodland Heritage reports back on site visit to James Wood in Devon
Woodland Heritage
Degree apprenticeships in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying and Real Estate launched in Wales
Welsh Government
New research finds forestry sector in Scotland contributes £1.1 billion to the economy annually
Scottish Government
