5. Interpretation and revision of the standard

The first edition of this standard was developed by a broadly based Technical Working Group and launched in May 1999.

A not-for-profit company, “United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS)”, was established in 2003 to own and manage the standard. The company is limited by guarantee (company number SC199337) and is managed by its members; its objectives are “to own, interpret, develop and promote a certification standard for forest management in the United Kingdom on behalf of United Kingdom forestry and environmental communities, and bodies which represent the interests of people working in woods and forests or using them for the purpose of recreation, for the general benefit of people”.

UKWAS members appoint a broadly based Steering Group which has responsibility for interpreting the standard and ensuring its periodic revision to take account of experience from its application and new information that arises. The Steering Group appoints an Interpretation Panel to provide it and users of the standard with advice on interpretation of the standard. This second edition of the standard has been developed by the Steering Group through a formal revision process.

Any necessary corrections or revisions to the standard will be incorporated into the electronic version available in HTML format on the UKWAS website. A list of all the changes made since publication will be maintained on the website and users of the printed version are recommended to check this on a regular basis.

The Steering Group has agreed that it is important to find ways of making certification to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard more accessible for owners and managers of small woods (100 ha and under) and those subject to a low intensity of management. It has supported research into adapting auditing procedures for small woods, and it will continue to explore ways of reducing the cost and time involved in certifying small woods and those subject to a low intensity of management.