UK Forestry Standard

 

The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) is the most important standard that applies to forestry in the UK. This document sets out UKFS criteria and standards for sustainable woodland management.  Produced by the Forestry Commission, it applies to ALL our grant schemes and felling licensing. First published in 1998, the UKFS is now available as an updated second edition.

This edition takes into account changes that have occurred in international and UK governance and administration, and alterations in regulations affecting forestry. Also included in the publication are indicators of sustainable forest management, derived from stakeholder consultation.

There is little change to our guidance about forestry practices, despite strategic differences in forest policy applicable to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The background to the changes in forest practices are generally well known and there should be no surprises. For example:

• Closer initial spacing where trees are being managed for timber production, in order to improve the potential for better quality timber.
• Forest removal – subject to the new regulations on environmental impact assessments – is sometimes highly beneficial in terms of sustainable development. In recent years such forest clearances have allowed the restoration of some scarce and important open ground habitats such as peat bogs and lowland heaths.

Other changes are mainly editorial and, we hope, should make the Forestry Standard easier to read. The publication costs £7.50, however it can also be downloaded free from the FC website at: www.forestry.gov.uk/publications.

UK Forestry Standard   (974k - pdf)