Uk forestry standard – 2nd edition

 

The UK Forestry Standard was published in 1998 and a reprint with some updating has become necessary – this is now available as the Second Edition. In a quite separate process the Forestry Commission and Forest Service for Northern Ireland are planning to revise, in consultation with stakeholders, the Forest Guidelines on which the Standard depends. When complete (hopefully within 2 to 3 years) we will need to take a fresh look at the UK Forestry Standard and the need for a more fundamental revision.

In the second edition we have taken account of changes that have occurred over the last 5 years in international and UK governance and administration, and changes in the regulations affecting forestry. During that time we also consulted on and published indicators of sustainable forest management. This process was anticipated in the first edition and is now reflected in a different approach being taken in the section of the Standard concerned with monitoring its implementation.

There are few changes to our guidance about forestry practices despite the changes of strategic emphasis now being introduced through the forestry policies of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The background to the changes in practice is generally well known and there should be no surprises. An example is a closer initial spacing where trees are being managed for timber production, in order to improve the potential for better quality timber. There is also a slight change to reflect the fact that – subject to the new regulations on environmental impact assessment – forest removal is sometimes highly beneficial in terms of sustainable development. In recent years such forest clearances have allowed the restoration of some scarce and important open ground habitats such as peat bogs and lowland heaths.

Other changes are mainly editorial and, we hope, should make the Standard easier to read. The publication will cost £7.50 and it can also be downloaded free from the FC website at: www.forestry.gov.uk/publications

The changes of interest in the second edition of the UK Forestry Standard are briefly described in the following note.

Note of the main amendments