Foreword

The launch of the United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) in June 1999 represented a unique coming together of organisations with an interest in sustainable forestry. Their work in developing a certification standard for sustainable woodland management had put the UK at the forefront of the global forest certification movement. Today, the UKWAS process continues to attract international interest and we frequently receive international visitors wishing to learn whether our experience might be helpful to them in formulating their own national processes.

Seven years on, it is clear that the working group which prepared the standard produced a first class piece of work. The standard has proved robust and durable and there have been remarkably few points on which further clarification was required by its users. Moreover, forest certification is now an established part of the UK forestry scene and the UKWAS is the certification standard of choice. There can be no doubt that the UKWAS has contributed to raising the standard of woodland management across the United Kingdom.

This second edition has again been developed by a multi-stakeholder steering group whose work was informed by responses to a public consultation exercise. It incorporates various changes reflecting our greater understanding of some complex issues plus necessary updates and clarifications. I am convinced that it will prove to be as robust as the first edition and that it will continue to serve a vital role in enabling producers to demonstrate their good credentials to consumers.

Peter Wilson FICFor
Executive Chairman