The Standard
Small Woods
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 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 for 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:
Small Woods Task Group’s Final Report to the Steering Group - UKWAS for
Smaller Woods (November 2007)
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
(May 2008)
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:
ProForest Report - Maintaining and extending Market Access for UK Timber
from Small and/or Low Intensity Managed (SLIM) Woodlands (April 2008)
Further information will be provided in due course.