KEY
The following abbreviations have been used throughout the text to highlight sources of additional information. More info.		 MP    Management Planning Guidance and Framework
BAP  Biodiversity Action Plan
FRM  Forest Reproductive Material Regulations		 References. See Appendix for references which give further guidance.
Compliance with the law and conformance with the requirements of the certification standard Print version
1.1 Compliance and conformance

Requirement

The owner/manager shall establish and maintain woodland management practices, the requirements of which are described in the whole of sections 1 to 8 of this standard.

  
1.1.1 Guidance

Requirement

There shall be compliance with the law. There shall be no substantiated outstanding claims of non-compliance related to woodland management.

Means of verification

All woodlands:
  • No evidence of non-compliance from audit.
Non-SLIM Woodlands:
  • A system to be aware of and implement requirements of new legislation.

Certification is not a legal compliance audit. Certification authorities will be checking that there is no evidence of non-compliance with relevant legal requirements including:

  • Management and employees understand and comply with all legal requirements relevant to their responsibilities
  • All documentation including procedures, work instructions and contracts meet legal requirements
  • No issues of legal non-compliance are raised by regulatory authorities or other interested parties.
BAP
 1.1.2 Guidance

Requirement

There shall be conformance with the spirit of any relevant codes of practice, guidelines or agreements.

Means of verification

All woodlands:
  • No evidence of non-conformance from audit.
Non-SLIM Woodlands:
  • A system to be aware of and implement requirements of new legislation.

The Appendix provides further information on guidelines and codes of practice.

Conformance with the spirit means that the owner/manager is aiming to achieve the principles set out in relevant codes of practice, guidelines or agreements and that:

  • Management and employees understand and comply with all legal requirements relevant to their responsibilities
  • All documentation including procedures, work instructions and contracts meet legal requirements
  • No issues of legal non-conformance are raised by regulatory authorities or other interested parties.
1.1.3 Guidance

Requirement

Legal ownership or tenure can be proved.

Means of verification

  • A signed declaration detailing nature and location of tenure documentation.

Legal ownership may be demonstrated by title deeds or solicitor’s letter or long term unchallenged use.
1.1.4 Guidance

Requirement

In the case of a significant dispute, legal documents such as title deeds, a solicitor’s letter or land registry records shall be produced.

Means of verification

  • Title deeds
  • Solicitor's letter
  • Land registry records
  • Use of dispute resolution mechanism.
Significant disputes would include, for example, land or tree crop ownership. Insignificant disputes would include, for example, maintenance of fencing.

Disputes of substantial magnitude involving a significant number of interests will normally disqualify an entity from being certified.
MP 1.1.5 Guidance

Requirement

The owner, manager or tenant shall be committed to conformance to this certification standard and has declared an intention to protect and maintain the ecological integrity of the woodland in the long term.

Means of verification

All woodlands:
  • Signed declaration of commitment.
Non-SLIM Woodlands:
  • Public statement of policy.
Examples of such declarations are available from the UKWAS website.

If a substantial failure has led to withdrawal of a woodland certification to this standard in the past, then substantial changes in ownership, policy commitment and management regime should have been implemented or a two-year track record of conformance established.