About Us
Small Woods Task Group
Consultation on proposals for making the UKWAS standard more
accessible for managers of small and / or low intensity managed (SLIM)
woodlands
Those charged with drawing up the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS)
have always been conscious that the certification process presents a
particular challenge for owners and managers of smaller woodlands.
With almost half of the UK forest area and around 80% of the wood
produced now certified, it is clear that forest certification is a
mainstream activity but a large proportion of small, privately owned
woodlands is not certified and this is a major concern for our Steering
Group.
Having concluded the first full revision of the UKWAS standard in November 2006 the UKWAS Steering Group decided to see what more might be done form smaller owners. A Small Woods Task Group (SWTG) was established to take forward this work. Their final report, UKWAS for Smaller Woods, is available on the UKWAS website; it concluded that the Steering Group could contribute most effectively to reducing cost and complexity for smaller owners through making changes to the text of the UKWAS standard and providing more comprehensive advice and guidance on certification.
The following document is available:
The Steering Group accepted the report's recommendations and a consultation paper has been issued to seek stakeholders' views on the Steering Group's proposals.
The following documents are available:
Covering letter from UKWAS Chairman
Small Woods Review: Consultation Paper (May 2008)
UK Woodland Assurance Standard - SLIM Woods Version Consultation Draft (May2008)
The deadline for responses is July 4th 2008
The UKWAS Steering Group is mindful that it can only play a limited role in developing solutions for smaller owners; other parties play important roles in the certification process too. The Steering Group therefore commissioned an independent report from ProForest Ltd to recommend additional actions that others might take to support smaller woodland owners. Their report, Maintaining and extending Market Access for UK Timber from Small and/or Low Intensity Managed (SLIM) Woodlands, was presented to the Steering Group in April 2008. The Forestry Commission and the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor) have agreed to take the lead in considering which recommendations might be taken forward.
The following document is available: