PEFC UK Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management (August 2006)

8/14/2019 PEFC UK Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management (August 2006)

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Promoting Sustainable Forest Management

PEFC UK Certification Schemefor

Sustainable Forest Management

Revision 2007

March 2007

PEFC UK LtdJupiter House, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3 9PX United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1829 770 438Email: [email protected]: www.pefc.co.uk

Registered in Scotland: Number 209443


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PEFC UK Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management (Revision: March 2007) Page 2 of 74

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 5 The PEFC United Kingdom Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management ............... 5

THE LAYOUT OF THE SCHEME DOCUMENTATION ................................................................... 7

SECTION 1: KEY REFERENCE DOCUMENTATION .................................................................... 8

Supporting Annex Documentation, included as part of the Scheme Submission ......................... 8 Supporting Reference Documentation ....................................................................................... 10 Abbreviations and Acronyms ..................................................................................................... 13

SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION: .............................................................................................. 14 The PEFC United Kingdom Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management ............. 14

2.1 PEFC UK Ltd ................................................................................................................. 14

2.2 Scheme Governance and Structure ............................................................................... 14 2.3 Guiding Principles of the Scheme: Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) .................. 15 2.4 Scope of the Scheme .................................................................................................... 16 2.5 The Role of the Secretariat ............................................................................................ 16 2.6 Review of the Standard ................................................................................................. 17 2.7 Revisions and Timeframe for Implementation of Revisions ............................................ 18 2.8 Recognition of UKWAS Standard Setting Process ......................................................... 18

SECTION 3: HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF FORESTRY IN THE UK ........................... 19

3.1 Forest History: Great Britain .......................................................................................... 19 3.2 Forest History: Northern Ireland ..................................................................................... 19

3.3 The UK: Ownership and Management ........................................................................... 20 3.4 Semi-natural Woodland ................................................................................................. 20 3.5 Planted Woodlands ....................................................................................................... 20 3.6 Wood Supply and Wood Processing.............................................................................. 20 3.7 Employment .................................................................................................................. 21 3.8 Forest Recreation .......................................................................................................... 21 3.9 UK Forest Policy for Sustainable Forest Management ................................................... 21

TABLE 1: Area of UK Woodland ................................................................................................ 22 TABLE 2: Division of Woodland Ownership ............................................................................... 23 TABLE 3: Species of Woodland by Area: Great Britain .............................................................. 24

FIGURE 1: New Woodland Creation since 1972 ....................................................................... 25

SECTION 4: UK FORESTRY STANDARD 2004 (REVISION) ............................................... 26

4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 26 4.2 The National Strategic Framework:................................................................................ 26 4.2 Background ................................................................................................................... 26 4.3 The UK Forestry Standard ............................................................................................. 27 4.4 Policies .......................................................................................................................... 27 4.5 Powers .......................................................................................................................... 28 4.6 Procedures for Consultation .......................................................................................... 28

4.7

Linkage to the Helsinki Guidelines and Pan-European Criteria (PEC) ........................... 28

4.8 Representation of the PEC ............................................................................................ 30


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SECTION 5: UK INDICATORS OF SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY .......................................... 31

5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 31 5.2 Consultation process ..................................................................................................... 32 5.3 Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 .................................................................. 32 5.4 Demonstration of Information Gathering ........................................................................ 33

SECTION 6: UK WOODLAND ASSURANCE STANDARD (UKWAS) REVISION 2006 ........ 34

6.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 34 6.2 UKWAS ......................................................................................................................... 34 6.3 Current Membership Base ............................................................................................. 34 6.4 Board and other meetings in relation to the revision of the Standard ............................. 34 6.5 Dates of Steering Group meetings and (number attending) ........................................... 35 6.6 Records ......................................................................................................................... 35 6.7 Consultation dates and replies received on the revision process ................................... 35 6.8 The Standard ................................................................................................................. 35 6.9 The eight sections of the Standard are as follows: ......................................................... 36 6.11 Accreditation .................................................................................................................. 36 6.12 Disputes Procedures ..................................................................................................... 37 6.13 Area Specificity .............................................................................................................. 37 6.14 Periodic Monitoring ........................................................................................................ 37 6.15 Stakeholder Consultations ............................................................................................. 38 6.16 Peer Review .................................................................................................................. 38 6.17 Transparency ................................................................................................................ 38 6.18 Flexibility in meeting requirements ................................................................................. 38 6.19 Time frame for full implementation of the requirements relating to woodland structureand layout .................................................................................................................................. 38 6.20 Application to different sizes of woodland ...................................................................... 39 6.21 Review and Revision of the Certification Standard ........................................................ 39

6.22 ILO Conventions referred within the structure of UKWAS .............................................. 40 6.23 Standard Setting Process .............................................................................................. 40 6.24 UKWAS Trademark ........................................................................................................... 40

SECTION 7: SCHEME GOVERNANCE ................................................................................. 41

7.1 Accreditation & Certification Requirements .................................................................... 41 7.1.1 Chain of Custody ........................................................................................................... 41 7.1.2 Forest Management Certification ................................................................................... 41 7.1.3 Accreditation Bodies ...................................................................................................... 42 7.1.4 Accreditation Criteria ..................................................................................................... 42 7.1.5 Roles of the Certification Body ....................................................................................... 43

7.1.6 Competence Criteria for Auditors ................................................................................... 43 7.1.7 Register of Certification Bodies ...................................................................................... 43 7.1.8 PEFC Notification of Certification Bodies ....................................................................... 43 7.2 Core Elements of the Scheme ....................................................................................... 44 7.2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 44 7.2.2 Initial enquiry and application for certification ................................................................. 44 7.2.3 Certification Quotation ................................................................................................... 44 7.2.4 Voluntary Pr e- Assessment or Gap Analysis .............................................................. 44 7.2.5 Main certification assessment (audit) ............................................................................. 45 7.2.6 Certification Report and Assessment (Auditor) Team recommendation. ........................ 45 7.2.7 Independent Review of the Certification Report ............................................................. 45 7.2.8 Certification decision ..................................................................................................... 46 7.2.9 Award of Certificate ....................................................................................................... 46 7.2.10 Period of certificate validity ........................................................................................ 46 7.2.11 Surveillance audits..................................................................................................... 46


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7.2.12 Stakeholder consultation............................................................................................ 46 7.2.13 Public Summary Report ............................................................................................. 47

For forest management certificates: .......................................................................................... 47 For chain of custody certificates: ............................................................................................... 48

7.3 Forest Management: Certification Levels ....................................................................... 48 7.3.2 Individual Certification.................................................................................................... 48 7.3.3 Group Certification ......................................................................................................... 49 7.3.5 Group Manager ............................................................................................................. 49 7.3.6 Resource Manager ........................................................................................................ 49 7.3.7 Group Certification ......................................................................................................... 50 7.3.8 Certification Body Requirements for Group Certification ................................................ 50 7.3.9 Group Certificate ........................................................................................................... 51 7.3.10 Resource Manager Certification ................................................................................. 51 7.3.11 Basis of Certification .................................................................................................. 51 7.3.12 Certification Body Requirements ................................................................................ 52 7.3.13 Issue of Resource Manager Certificate ...................................................................... 52 7.4 Chain of Custody ........................................................................................................... 52 7.5 Award, Suspension & Withdrawal of Certificates ........................................................... 54 7.5.1 Responsibility ................................................................................................................ 54 7.5.2 Procedures .................................................................................................................... 54 7.5.3 Information on Certificates ............................................................................................. 55 7.5.4 Renewal of Certificates .................................................................................................. 55 7.6 Use of Logos & Marks ................................................................................................... 55 7.6.1 Relating to Certification Bodies ...................................................................................... 55 7.6.2 Relating to other Labels licensed by other Bodies ......................................................... 55 7.6.3 PEFC Logo Usage ......................................................................................................... 55 7.7 Appeals, Complaints & Disputes .................................................................................... 56 7.7.2 Interpretation of the UK Woodland Assurance Standard ................................................ 56

7.7.3 Referral to UK Accreditation Service.............................................................................. 56 7.7.4 Role of PEFC UK........................................................................................................... 56

APPENDIX 1: Pan-European Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management ........................ 57

APPENDIX 2: Relationship with PEC ......................................................................................... 60 Interpretation of the PEC in relation to the delivery of forestry in the UK. ................................... 60

APPENDIX 3: Indicators of Sustainable Forestry Operated in the UK .................................... 63

APPENDIX 4: ILO Conventions referred within the structure of UKWAS ............................ 67

APPENDIX 5: Certification bodies operating in the UK ............................................................ 68

APPENDIX 6: UKWAS Standard Setting Process ..................................................................... 69


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INTRODUCTION

The PEFC United Kingdom Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management(Revision 2007)

The PEFC United Kingdom Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management (the

Scheme) was first adopted by PEFC UK Ltd in 2001 and then subsequently endorsed by PEFCCouncil in 2002. Since 2002, PEFC UK has incorporated a number of minor amendments to theoriginal Scheme, the most notable of which have been the adoption of the PEFC Council Annex 4:Chain of Custody of Forest Based Products Requirements, which was officially adopted by thePEFC Council General Assembly in October 2004 and further amended in June 2005 and therevised UK Woodland Assurance Standard, published 1 st November 2006.

As the original Scheme expires in 2007, the Scheme has now been completely re-drafted to meetcurrent PEFC Council requirements, as detailed in Annex 3: Basis for Certification Schemes andtheir Implementation, which defines the minimum requirements a Scheme shall meet and rules forits implementation. This Annex was adopted by the General Assembly of the PEFC Council inNovember 2002 and amended in October 2003, October 2004, 28 October 2005 and 27 October

2006.

The revised Scheme is based on two national United Kingdom published documents namely, theUnited Kingdom Forestry Standard (the Government s Approach to Sustainable Forestry) , whichwas revised in April 2004, and the Forest Management Certification Standard, which is known asthe United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) (the Standard). UKWAS has alsoundergone a major review and thorough public consultation exercise during 2005 and 2006. Therevision of the Standard was published 1 st November 2006.

The Scheme is based on the subsidiary principle of the PEFC Council (Programme forEndorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) regarding the establishment of national certificationschemes and will permit forest producers in the UK to comply with minimum requirements ensuringsustainable forest management.

Its aim is to provide consumers with guarantees that the products with PEFC certificates arederived from forest management wherein there is consistent application of principles ofsustainability founded on three basic pillars of social, environmental and economic understanding.

Within this setting, the PEFC UK Scheme has been constructed on the basis of the Pan -EuropeanCriteria and Indicators for Sustain able Forest Management and the Pan -European OperationalLevel Guidelines for Sustainable Forest Management adopted as Resolution L2 at the 3 rd Ministerial Conference for the Protection of Forests in Europe.

Confirmation of PEFC documentation

The Board of PEFC UK Ltd adopted at a meeting of the Directors on the 28 th March 2007, as partof the PEFC UK Certification Scheme, that it would be referenced by and adopt all requiredimplementation dates of PEFC Council documentation including Technical, Annexes andsupporting Appendices and Guidelines, as currently approved and including all updates endorsedby the PEFC General Assembly on the 26 th October 2006.

In particular the PEFC UK Scheme will recognise:

Appendix 1 to Annex 4 (27 October 2006): PEFC Council specification for the origin for thepurposes of PEFC label and declarations

Appendix 6 to Annex 4 (27 October 2006): Specification of the origin for the purposes ofPEFC label and declarations covering recycled raw material and this will be effective from1 st May 2007.
http://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1223_file.1690.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1224_file.1691.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1224_file.1691.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1223_file.1690.pdf


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Appendix 7 to Annex 4 (27 October 2006): Implementation of requirements for theavoidance of the procurement of raw material from controversial sources

Appendix 8 to Annex 4 (27 October 2006): PEFC Council specification for the origin for thepurposes of PEFC label and declarations for non wood forest products.

GL 6/2006 PEFC Notification of Certification Bodies. 26 October 2006 and PEFC UK willadopt as from the effective date of 1 st June 2007.

Standard Setting Procedures of the national Forest Standard (UKWAS)

At the meeting of the Directors of PEFC UK Ltd it was agreed that PEFC UK recognises that therequired UKWAS Standard Setting Process as published in January 2007 was not formally in placeduring the initial preparation or the revision of the Standard (published 1 st November 2006). Theevidence offered by UKWAS and PEFC UK demonstrates that although the Standard SettingProcess was not formally in place, all the required measures were followed at all stages of thepreparation and subsequent revision of the Standard and the majority of the requirements can bereferenced within the following:

UKWAS - Memorandum of Association (Amended 25 November 2002)UKWAS - Articles of Association (Adopted 25 November 2002)UKWAS Steering Group Rules (Version 1: adopted 15 December 2003)

Therefore, PEFC UK requests PEFC Council to accept, in the absence of the published StandardSetting Procedures of UKWAS during the Standard development and revision processes, that allthe necessary steps have been taken by UKWAS to ensure full compatibility with the PEFCCrequirements for a Standard Setting Process. Based on this evidence, PEFC UK requests theCouncil of PEFC to accept that the non compliance has been satisfactorily addressed and that theUK Scheme can be endorsed.

This revision of this Scheme was adopted by the board of PEFC UK Ltd, on the 5 th July 2006 andfurther amendments approved 28th March 2007.

31 st March 2007

PEFC UK LtdJupiter HouseHigh StreetTattenhall

CheshireCH3 9PX

www.pefc.co.uk
http://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1225_file.1692.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1226_file.1693.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1226_file.1693.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1225_file.1692.pdf


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THE LAYOUT OF THE SCHEME DOCUMENTATION

The Scheme documentation has been set out the following order:

The SCHEME

Section 1: Key reference documentation

Section 2: The PEFC United Kingdom Certification Scheme for Sustainable ForestManagement (The Scheme)

Section 3: History and Background to Forestry in the UK

Section 4: UK Forestry Standard of April 2004

Section 5: UK Indicators of Sustainable Forestry

Section 6: UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) Revision October 2006

Section 7: Scheme Governance

Section 8: Appendices

APPENDIX 1 : Pan-European Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management APPENDIX 2 : Relationship with PEC APPENDIX 3: Indicators of Sustainable Forestry Operated in the UK APPENDIX 4: ILO Conventions referred within the structure of UKWAS APPENDIX 5: Certification bodies operating in the UK APPENDIX 6: UKWAS Standard Setting Process

ANNEX DOCUMENTATION

Annex 1: The UK Forestry Standard The Government s Approach to SustainableForestry (April 2004) (revision)

Annex 2: The UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) (2006) (revision)

Annex 3: PEFC Council Annex 4Chain of Custody of Forest Based Products: Requirements (27 October 2006)

Annex 4: PEFC Council Annex 6: Certification and Accreditation Procedures

Annex 5: PEFCC Guidelines

Annex 6 PEFC Council Guideline: GL 2/2006: PEFC Council Minimum RequirementsChecklist

Annex 7: Northern Ireland Forestry: A Strategy for Sustainability and Growth

Annex 8: UK Indicators of Sustainable Forestry


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SECTION 1: KEY REFERENCE DOCUMENTATION

Supporting Annex Documentation, included as part of the Scheme Submission

1.1 Annex 1: The UK Forestry StandardThe Government s Approach to Sustainable Forestry (April 2004)(revision)

The UK Forestry Standard is compatible with the Helsinki Guidelines. These guidelines and criteria necessarily giveweight to some issues (such as soil erosion and fire) that are globally important, but not usually critical in the UK. Theuse of native species is also an area of different emphasis: only one native conifer species ( Pinus sylvestris ) iscommercially utilisable for timber, and as a consequence, non-native trees play a major part in UK forestry. Hence, theUK Forestry Standard has less to say about fire and forests for soil protection, and more about non-native species, thanmight be expected in other European countries.

1.2 Annex 2: The UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) (2006) (revision)

The UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) is a certification standard which sets out the requirements whichwoodland owners and managers and certification authorities can use to certify woodland management in the UnitedKingdom. The standard is the product of an inclusive and transparent process which has involved a balanced

representation from the UK forestry and environmental community. It has been designed to ensure that it reflects therequirements of the Government s UK Forestry Standard and through this the guidelines adopted by European ForestryMinisters at Helsinki in 1993 and Lisbon in 1998 .

1.3 Annex 3: PEFC Council Annex 4Chain of Custody of Forest Based Products: Requirements

The text of this standard has been developed by the Chain of Custody and Labelling Working Group of the PEFC Counciland was officially adopted by the PEFC Council General Assembly on 29 October 2004 and amended on 17 June 2005.This standard can be endorsed and utilised by any forest certification or labelling scheme which includes chain ofcustody rules for the purposes of using declarations and/or labels referring to the origin of the raw material included inthe forest based products. The objectives of the chain of custody are to create an information link between the rawmaterial included in a forest based product and the origin of that raw material.

The following Appendices to Annex 4 have been adopted by PEFC UK:

On 27 October 2006, Appendix 1 and Appendix 6 have been amended and new Appendix 7 and Appendix 8added to Annex 4.

Appendix 1 to Annex 4 (27 October 2006): PEFC Council specification for the origin for the purposes of PEFClabel and declarations

Appendix 6 to Annex 4 (27 October 2006): Specification of the origin for the purposes of PEFC label anddeclarations covering recycled raw material and this will be effective from 1 st May 2007.

Appendix 7 to Annex 4 (27 October 2006): Implementation of requirements for the avoidance of theprocurement of raw material from controversial sources

Appendix 8 to Annex 4 (27 October 2006): PEFC Council specification for the origin for the purposes of PEFClabel and declarations for non wood forest products.

Annex 4: PEFC Council Annex 6: Certification and Accreditation Procedures

PEFC Council recognised certifications for forest management and chain of custody rely on international certification andaccreditation procedures as defined in the documentation of the International Standardization Organisation (ISO) andEuropean co-operation for Accreditation (EA) as well as in the Objectives International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

This document defines the certification and accreditation procedures for forest and chain of custody certificationsadopted and considered credible and reliable by the PEFC Council. The PEFC Council does not set any requirementsregarding the auditing and decision making in certification or accreditation. However, it may issue PEFC-trademarklicenses only against specified types of certifications.

This document was adopted by the General Assembly of the PEFC Council on 22 November 2002 and amended on 31October 2003, 11 April 2005, 28 October 2005 and 27 October 2006.

This document specifies the general competence requirements and tasks of certification bodies when applied to forestand chain of custody certification
http://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1223_file.1690.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1224_file.1691.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1225_file.1692.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1226_file.1693.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1226_file.1693.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1225_file.1692.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1224_file.1691.pdfhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/resources/4_1334_1223_file.1690.pdf


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1.5 Annex 5: PEFCC Guidelines

GL 5/2006: Interpretation of the PEFC Council Requirements for Consensus in the Standard Setting ProcessGL 6/2006 PEFC Notification of Certification Bodies. 26 October 2006 and PEFC will adopt as from effectivedate of 1 st June 2007.

1.6 PEFC Council Guideline: GL 2/2006

PEFC Council Minimum Requirements Checklist

The objectives of these guidelines are aimed to assist bodies, to develop or revise their forest certification schemes firstlyby advising on the preparation of an application for PEFC Council endorsement and, secondly by facilitating theassessment of the compliance of a national or sub-national forest certification scheme against the PEFC Councilrequirements carried out by the PEFC Council as a part of its endorsement and mutual recognition process.

These guidelines cover the PEFC Council minimum requirements, which shall be met by national and sub-nationalschemes and standards applying for PEFC Council endorsement and mutual recognition, and are a part of theapplication for the PEFC Council endorsement and mutual recognition.

These guidelines were adopted by the PEFC Council Board of Directors in April 2003 and revised in January 2005, April2005, January 2006 and 27 October 2006.

1.7 Annex 5: Northern Ireland Forestry: A Strategy for Sustainability and Growth

The strategy focuses on how more forests can be created and on the sustainable management of existing forests. Itcommits the Forest Service to continuing in its role as the major source of advice on forestry and promoting the use offorests and forest products. It will also continue to be the main provider of access to forest based recreation and of timberand forest products. The Strategy commits the government to ensuring that all forests are managed to national standards

1.8 Annex 6: UK Indicators of Sustainable Forestry

Economics and Statistics Unit: Forestry Commission (October 2002)
http://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_400/4_1208_166/5_1177_1420.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_400/4_1208_166/5_1177_1420.htm


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Supporting Reference Documentation

1.9 PEFC UK Ltd: UK Certification Scheme for Sustainable ForestManagement (2001)

1.10 PEFC Council Statutes

PEFC Statutes is the highest document of the PEFC Council defining objectives, structure andbasic procedures of the PEFC Council.

1.11 PEFC Council Annexes

1.11.1 PEFCC Annex 1: Terms and Definitions

This Annex was adopted by the General Assembly of the PEFC Council in November 2002 andamended in October 2004 and 27 October 2006.

1.11.2 PEFCC Annex 2: Rules for Standard Setting

The document provides the rules for the standard setting process that a certification scheme applyingfor PEFC endorsement and mutual recognition shall fulfill. The rules guide standard setting andscheme development at national or sub-national levels. The document was adopted by the GeneralAssembly of the PEFC Council on 22 November 2002 and amended in October 2004, October 2005and 27 October 2006. The document covers standard setting procedures for certification of sustainableforest management and chain of custody certification.

1.11.3 PEFCC Annex 3: Basis for Certification Schemes and their Implementation

The document Basis for National Schemes and their Implementation defines the minimum

requirements a scheme shall meet and rules for its implementation. The document guides the standardsetting and the definition of its implementation arrangements. The document was adopted by theGeneral Assembly of the PEFC Council in November 2002 and amended in October 2003, October2004, October 2005 and 27 October 2006

The document covers the base requirements, optional implementation framework and schemedocumentation required for forest and chain of custody certification.

Chain of custody certification verifies that the timber procurement and processing organisations have acredible system to track the origin of the timber. It does not address the environmental, social oreconomic impacts of the timber haulage or processing.

1.11.4 PEFCC Annex 5: PEFC Logo Use Rules

The objective of the document is to set up rules for PEFC logo use in order both to assure theprotection of ownership rights of the PEFC Logo and transparent and credible communication of claimsconnected with PEFC certification to avoid any misleading or misunderstanding of PEFC messages.The document was adopted by the General Assembly of the PEFC Council in November 2002 andamended in October 2003, October 2004, June 2005, October 2005 and 27 October 2006.


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1.11.5 PEFCC Annex 6: Certification and Accreditation Procedures

PEFC Council recognised certifications for forest management and chain of custody, rely oninternational certification and accreditation procedures as defined in the documentation of theInternational Standardisation Organisation (ISO) and European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) aswell as in the International Accreditation Forum (IAF)

This document defines the certification and accreditation procedures for forest and chain of custodycertifications adopted and considered credible and reliable by the PEFC Council. The PEFC Councildoes not set any requirements regarding the auditing and decision making in certification oraccreditation. However, it may issue PEFC-trademark licenses only against specified types ofcertifications.

This document was adopted by the General Assembly of the PEFC Council in November 2002 andamended in October 2003, April 2005, October 2005 and 27 October 2006.

This document specifies the general competence requirements and tasks of certification bodies whenapplied to forest and chain of custody certification.

1.11.6. PEFCC Annex 7: Endorsement and Mutual Recognition of National

Schemes and their RevisionRules for the endorsement and mutual recognition of national or sub-national forest certification andchain of custody standards and schemes, to guide assessment and decision-making in theendorsement and mutual recognition process. The rules harmonize the documentation on the schemeand applications as well as the assessment processes carried out by the independent consultants orby the panel of experts. They also set the framework for the decision making process in the PEFCCouncil for the endorsement and mutual recognition of standards and schemes and thus provide fairand equal procedures for all applicants.

This document was adopted by the General Assembly of the PEFC Council in November 2002 andamended in October 2004, October 2005 and 27 October 2006. This document describes theendorsement and mutual recognition process and refers to the minimum requirements for standardsetting and scheme documentation. Procedures for the endorsement and mutual recognition ofreviewed, revised and amended schemes are also described.

The endorsement of a scheme means that the members of the PEFC Council have determined thatthe scheme meets the requirements of the PEFC Council. The election procedure ensures that eachscheme votes on each other. Therefore the schemes mutually recognise each other under the PEFCCouncil mutual recognition umbrella.

1.12 Criteria for Sustainable Forest management

1.12.1 Pan European Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable ForestManagement

The forest management performance standards of national forest certification schemes, which applyfor the endorsement and mutual recognition within the PEFC framework, shall be based on Pan-European Criteria and Indicators adopted as Annex 2 to the Resolution L2 of the MinisterialConference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) held in Lisbon in 1998

1.12.2 PEOLG: Pan European Operational Level Guidelines for SFM

The forest management performance standards of national forest certification schemes, which applyfor endorsement and mutual recognition within the PEFC framework, shall be in full compliance withthe requirements of the Pan-European Operational Level Guidelines (PEOLG) adopted as Annex 1 tothe Resolution L2 of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) heldin Lisbon in 1998


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1.13 ISO Documentation

1.13.1 ISO 19011:2002 : Guidelines for quality and/or environmental management systemsauditing .

1.13.2 ISO/IEC Guide 61:1996 (EN 45 010:1998) : General requirements for assessmentand accreditation of certification/registration bodies .

1.13.3 ISO/IEC Guide 62:1996 (EN 45 012:1998): General requirements for bodie soperating assessment and certification/registration of quality systems .

1.13.4 ISO/IEC Guide 65 (EN 45 011:1998) : General requirements for bodies operatingproduct certification systems .

1.13.5 ISO/IEC Guide 66:1999: General requirements for bodies operating assessment andcertification / registration of environmental management systems (EMS) .

1.13.6 ISO/PAS 17001 Conformity assessment Impartiality Principles and requirements

1.14 ILO Documents: Core ILO Conventions

1.15 International Conventions

1.15.1 Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety (Bio-safety Protocol)

1.15.2 Convention on Biological Diversity

1.15.3 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Fauna and Flora

1.15.4 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention onClimate Change

1.16 Forestry Facts and Figures 2005

Economics and Statistics Unit: Forestry Commission (2005)

1.17 UKWAS: Articles of Association and Steering Group rules

Available from UKWAS website: www.ukwas. org.uk
http://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_292.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_292.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_292.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_292.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_292.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_292.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_292.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_462.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_462.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_462.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_462.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_462.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_462.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_291.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_291.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_291.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_291.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_291.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_291.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_291.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_463.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_463.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_463.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_463.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_463.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_461.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_458.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_460.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_460.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_459.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_459.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_459.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_459.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_459.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_460.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_460.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_458.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_172/5_1177_461.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_463.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_463.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_291.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_291.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_462.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_462.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_292.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_292.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htmhttp://www.pefc.org/internet/html/documentation/4_1311_401/4_1208_170/5_1177_464.htm


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Abbreviations and Acronyms

C and I Criteria and Indicators C o C Chain of CustodyDARD Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern IrelandEA European Co-operation for AccreditationEIA Environmental Impact AssessmentEN European NormENGO Environmental non-government organisation EMAS Eco-Management and Audit SchemeFC Forestry CommissionFE Forest EnterpriseFMU Forest Management UnitGB England, Scotland and Wales

IAF International Accreditation Forum ILO International Labour OrganisationISEAL International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance ISO International Standardisation OrganisationMCPFE Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in EuropeNGO Non-government organisationNIWT National Inventory of Woodland and Trees PEC Pan European CriteriaPEFC Programme for the Endorsement of Forest CertificationPEFCC Council for the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest CertificationPEFC UK Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification: United Kingdom PEOLG Pan-European Operational Level GuidelinesSFM Sustainable Forest Management SSSI Sites of Special Scientific InterestTGA Timber Growers Association UK United KingdomUKAS United Kingdom Accreditation ServiceUKWAS United Kingdom Woodland Assurance StandardUTGO Ulster Timber Growers Organisation


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SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION:

The PEFC United Kingdom Certification Scheme for Sustainable Forest Management(THE SCHEME)

2.1 PEFC UK Ltd

PEFC UK Ltd was established in 2000. The Company is registered in Scotland, number 209443and the Registered Office is located at C/O David J T McKenzie, Unit 1, James Keiller Building,32-34 Mains Loan. Dundee DD4 7BT Scotland. The Company has an administrative office atJupiter House, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, England CH3 9PX.

The Articles of Association were adopted on 13 th July 2000 and were subscribed by the TimberGrowers Association Ltd and the Ulster Timber Growers Organisation, as a Company Limited byGuarantee and not having Share Capital.

The first board meeting was held in Edinburgh on 12 th September 2000 and since then theCompany has held a minimum of two meetings of the Directors each year and has held an AnnualGeneral Meeting each year. The audited company accounts have been lodged for each accountingyear which runs from the 1 st August to the 31 st July, within the time scale required of its registrationand the Company is currently of good financial standing.

As of 2006, there are 7 directors, including the Chairman and the National Secretary.

The Company Secretary, who is not a director, is David J T McKenzie, Unit 1, James KeillerBuilding, 32-34 Mains Loan. Dundee DD4 7BT Scotland.

PEFC Council has recognised PEFC UK as a member country of the PEFC Council.

2.2 Scheme Governance and Structure

The Scheme is owned, governed and administered by a national Governing Body, PEFC UK Ltd,which is responsible for:

Managing the Scheme to meet the endorsement requirements of PEFC Council.

Developing and reviewing the design of the Scheme with a view to continuousimprovement.

Developing, implementing and reviewing the rules and requirements for participation in theScheme by certification applicants, with particular reference to the requirements andconditions set out by PEFC Council in the published Annex documentation.

Promoting the use and credibility of the Scheme and ensuring its accessibility to the forestindustry and all interested stakeholders.

Helping to promote the UK Woodland Assurance Standard, as the national certificationstandard for Sustainable Forest Management in the UK.

Participating in the development, monitoring and review of the UK Woodland AssuranceStandard.

Issuing and updating of all documentation relating to administration and implementation ofthe Scheme.


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Setting and reviewing the eligibility criteria for certification bodies wishing to carry out thirdparty audits under the Scheme.

Maintaining a register of Accredited and Notified Certification Bodies and monitoring thesebodies to ensure continued compliance with eligibility criteria.

Establishing and maintaining records of all forest areas / organisations / enterprisescertified under the Scheme and certified for Chain of Custody.

Resolving appeals, complaints and disputes arising out of the operation of the Scheme that

(a) cannot otherwise be resolved between the Certification Body and the auditee or theUKWAS Interpretation Panel, or that

(b) arise out of the issue, suspension or withdrawal of a license to use a product labelissued by a third party.

Setting, collection and review of all legitimate costs / fees associated with participation in

the Scheme by certification applicants.

Licensing and control of the use of any logos, claims and labels used in association with theScheme.

The document describes PEFC UK. Together with its annexes, it establishes the technical terms ofreference that permit the certification of sustainable forest management and of the chain ofcustody. This document includes the description of the three levels of application of certification ofsustainable forest management at individual forest unit and group level.

It also establishes the requirements for their recognition by PEFC UK, defining the variousprocedures and responsibilities of each of the parties involved.

2.3 Guiding Principles of the Scheme: Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)

This is defined in the context of this Scheme as:

the stewardship and use of forests and forest land in a way, and at a rate, that maintainstheir biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions at local, national and global levels and does not cause damage to other ecosystems.

Governance and delivery of the Scheme is underpinned by the commitment of PEFC UK Ltd to thefollowing guiding principles:

Quality - through the stringency of criteria for technical and professional competencieswith which to operate the Scheme.

Continuous Improvement - through response to new knowledge and changes indemands.

Consistency - with internationally recognised indicators and performance criteria ofcredible forest certification standards, schemes, and of the certification process itself.

Exclusive use and promotion of the UK Woodland Assurance Standard - as thecriteria and indicators for verification of sustainable forest management in the UK.


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Credibility - through third party, independent auditing carried out by certification bodiesaccredited by national accreditation service or other accreditation bodies operating tointernationally accepted ISO standards and guidelines.

Transparency - of all stages of both the certification Standard and the certification

Scheme

Accountability to, and participation with - the UK and wider forestry and timber usingcommunities and stakeholders.

Cost effectiveness - through minimising the administrative and financial burden to theScheme s customers.

Accessibility - via the UK Woodland Assurance Standard and the PEFC Council Chainof Custody Standard - to a range of certification options to all forest and wood usingtypes, ownerships and structures.

2.4 Scope of the Scheme

Certification of the sustainable management of all forest and woodland types andownerships within the United Kingdom to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard.

Certification of Chain of Custody in accordance PEFC Council Annex 4: Chain ofCustody of Forest Based Products: Requirements

Management and control within the UK of PEFC logo licencing requirements as set out

in PEFCC Annex 5: PEFC Logo Use Rules

Notification of Certification awards

2.5 The Role of the Secretariat

The co-ordination and everyday management of the Scheme is ensured by the secretariat, whosefunctions are described in the statutes of the association. Additionally, within the scope of thecertification system, the PEFC UK secretariat is responsible for:

Maintaining an up-to-date register and control of all entities using the PEFC logoand ensuring its correct use;

Verifying the rules for logo use and their conformity with Annex 5 of the PEFCCouncil Technical Document PEFC Logo Use Rules and, whenever necessary, implementing corrective or preventive actions;

Maintaining up to date relevant information about the PEFC process, makingavailable and disseminating all the technical knowledge and providing support forthe accreditation and standardisation activities.

Managing the register of certifying bodies and of qualified auditors.

Accompanying and reviewing the terms of reference of PEFC UK, whenever justified by relevant alterations in the scope of the PEFC Council or by results of theimplementation of the system;


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Managing the PEFC requirement for the Notification of accredited CertificationBodies within the UK

Promoting actions for the dissemination and promotion of PEFC UK, being equallyresponsible for institutional relations;

Accompanying the process of recognition of entities in the scope of the certificationsystem;

Promoting and supporting the definition of programs for training courses forauditors.

As such, the responsibilities of PEFC UK are to:

Define the accepted indicators of sustainable forest management, according to thespecific characteristics of UK forests;

Define the levels of application of forest management certification

Establish procedures for certifying the flows of raw material originating from certifiedforests (chain of custody);

Establishing and/or recognise guides to good forest practices, and

Issuing other technical documents to support the application of sustainable forestmanagement.

2.6 Review of the Standard

The Standard Setting Process of UKWAS (see Appendix 6 section D) states:

The standard shall be reviewed and revised as necessary on a five year cycle and the SteeringGroup shall invite the certification schemes to participate in the review process by:

a) Notifying them of its intention to begin a review process and providing a projected time lineto be discussed and agreed with them.

b) Requiring them to confirm that these Standard Setting Procedures will meet theirrequirements.

PEFC UK shall monitor and ensure that the necessary timescales are achieved to meet thisrequirement.

UKWAS states that: The review process should include as a minimum the steps set out in sectionB4 and incorporate the following elements:

a) An Interpretation Review a consideration of any advice developed by the InterpretationPanel.

b) A Technical Review a consideration of any new scientific or technical knowledge.

c) An International Benchmarking Review a comparison with any equivalent accredited

standards of a similar geographical or ecological scope of application, and an evaluation ofwhether there are any substantial differences in the overall cost/benefit balance ofcompliance for similar types of enterprise with similar forest conditions. (To be provided bythe certification schemes.)


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d) A Standard Users Feedback Review - a consideration of feedback from certificate holdersand accredited certification authorities. (To be provided by the certification schemes.)

e) A Review o f the Initial Stakeholders Consultation a consideration of consulteescomments and responses.

f) A Small and Low Intensity Managed Woodlands Review a consideration of the impactand applicability of the standard for small and low intensity operations.

g) A Certification Schemes Requirements Review a consideration of advice (to be providedby the certification schemes) on any new or revised policies, procedures or guidance that isrelevant to the revision. National certification schemes should seek advice and guidancefrom their international body when compiling their advice.

2.7 Revisions and Timeframe for Implementation of Revisions

PEFC UK adopts a policy for the implementation of Changes and / or Revisions induced by PEFCCouncil which meet required implementation dates. Similarly, Changes to the UKWAS will beimplemented as set out by the Standard setting body.

2.8 Recognition of the UKWAS Standard Setting Process

At the meeting of the Directors of PEFC UK Ltd it was agreed that PEFC UK recognises that therequired UKWAS Standard Setting Process as published in January 2007 was not formally in placeduring the initial preparation or the revision of the Standard (published 1 st November 2006). Theevidence offered by UKWAS and PEFC UK demonstrates that although the Standard SettingProcess was not formally in place, all the required measures were followed at all stages of thepreparation and subsequent revision of the Standard and the majority of the requirements can bereferenced within the following:

UKWAS - Memorandum of Association (Amended 25 November 2002)UKWAS - Articles of Association (Adopted 25 November 2002)UKWAS Steering Group Rules (Version 1: adopted 15 December 2003)

Therefore, PEFC UK requests PEFC Council to accept, in the absence of the published StandardSetting Procedures of UKWAS during the Standard development and revision processes, that allthe necessary steps have been taken by UKWAS to ensure full compatibility with the PEFCCrequirements for a Standard Setting Process. Based on this evidence, PEFC UK requests the

Council of PEFC to accept that the non compliance has been satisfactorily addressed and that theUK Scheme can be endorsed.


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SECTION 3: HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF FORESTRY IN THE UK

3.1 Forest History: Great Britain

The woodlands of the England, Scotland and Wales reflect changes in land-use over severalthousand years. During this period the land, which was once largely covered with woodland, wascleared of trees and used to satisfy the demands of an increasing population for timber, fuel andagriculture. By the beginning of the 20th century woodland cover was around 5%. Today this figurehas risen to 11.9% (2.74 million hectares), as the result of commitment to a steady programme ofplanting by successive governments, and the enthusiasm of many landowners and foresters. It iscurrently the policy of each country administration within the UK to increase the woodland area.

Due to extensive afforestation and woodland creation programmes, forest cover in the UK hasincreased by 1.7 million hectares over the last century. However, it is still only 12 per cent,compared to the European average of 33 per cent, the area of woodland cover per capita being0.05 hectares per person. The high population density of the UK has resulted in uniquely strong

public pressure on forestry aesthetics and a demanding forest planning system to ensure that non-production benefits, such as landscape and recreation, are fully considered.

The Forestry Commission serves as the department of Forestry for the Westminster Governmentand within the devolved administrations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and isresponsible for forest legislation and policy in Great Britain. The UK Forestry Standard and theForestry Act 1967 form the basis for legal and sustainable management. The UK WoodlandAssurance Standard (UKWAS) is the national forest certification standard.

Extensive programmes of woodland diversification are under way to improve landscape impacts,continuity of habitats, biodiversity provision, continuity of timber supply and opportunities forrecreation. Restoration of semi-natural woodlands and creation of new native woodland habitats

are also policy priorities, along with the creation of new woodlands on urban fringes. Valuablehabitats, such as ancient woodland remnants, are protected as part of plantation management.

3.2 Forest History: Northern Ireland

From a base of only 1.4% of land area in 1919, forests and woodland have expanded to cover 6%of the land area of Northern Ireland. This is, however, much less than the 10% cover in theRepublic of Ireland, 12% cover in Great Britain and 33% cover in Europe . The restoration offorestry was driven first by a need to develop a strategic reserve of timber for use in a time ofnational emergency, and then by a need to promote economic development through the supply ofraw material to sawmills and other industrial applications. Today there are 86,000 ha of forests, of

which DARD owns three quarters. Most of this forest is concentrated in the uplands in the northand west of Northern Ireland and is managed by the Forest Service, an Agency of the Department.The Department has published a target for new afforestation of an additional 1,500ha by 2008 atan annual rate of 500ha.

All forests, including Forest Service plantations, are managed on a sustainable basis and subjectto independent audit and certification against the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS).This Standard enco m p asses t he UK For est ry St andar d as a m in im um , bu t also r eq uir esfores t managers to del iver a programme of habi ta t res torat ion, conservat ion andenvironm ent al enhancem ent and social engagem ent , wh i lst ensuring econom icviabil i ty.


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3.3 The UK: Ownership and Management

Around two- thirds of the UK s woodland resource is privately owned by individuals, family trusts,charitable trusts or companies. It is estimated that there are about 40 000 private woodland ownerswho own areas greater than 5 hectares. Typically, woodlands owned by private and familyinterests are a part of mixed estates or are on farms. There are many thousands of small farmwoodlands, but very few owners with more than 1000 hectares of woodland. Management ofwoodlands for game is an important objective on many estates with woodland and on some farms.Typically timber production is considered important in the larger family estates and companyowned forests. An increasing number of woods are managed specifically for recreational andconservation purposes by charitable trusts and private owners.

The remaining one-third of woodlands is owned publicly, the bulk of it managed by the Forestry

Commission (FC) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland(DARD). In the main, these are new forests establishe d in the 20th century in areas of lowagricultural value, particularly in the uplands, using mainly conifer species. Some woodlands areowned and managed by other public agencies, including local authorities.

3.4 Semi-natural Woodland

The United Kingdom has no natural forest, but has about 650 000 hectares of semi-naturalwoodland of which 288 000 hectares are classed as ancient and semi-natural (1.2% of land area).This is mainly broadleaved, but includes the native pine forests of highland Scotland. Semi-naturalwoodlands are especially significant for wildlife conservation because they support a highproportion of rare and threatened species. They are also important for landscape and culturalheritage. Timber production and recreation are important uses of semi-natural woodland, butcareful management is required to avoid conflict with special wildlife interests. Ancient semi-naturalwoodlands are especially valuable as some are remnants of the original post-glacial forest.Conservation of natural habitat is of prime importance.

3.5 Planted Woodlands

Broadleaved tree species are a traditional part of much of the largely man-made landscape of theUK. Most of the common broadleaved tree species are either native to the British Isles, or havebeen established there for many centuries. They have been planted for a wide variety of purposes:landscape, amenity, timber production, shelter and game. Their quality as timber trees is variable,but there is always a lively demand for good quality hardwood trees, and the broadleavedresource, as a whole, supports a small but viable sawmilling industry. The commercial base of theforest industry relies heavily on introduced tree species, particularly Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis )from North America. Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) is the only native conifer of economicsignificance. There are about a dozen conifer species in common forestry use.

3.6 Wood Supply and Wood Processing

The annual wood supplies available from existing UK forests are expected to increase from thelevel of 10 million cubic metres achieved in 1999 (standing volume) to about 15 million cubicmetres by 2015. This would provide 20 25% of the UK s wood requirements, but the actual rate ofprogression depends partly on timber prices. A rapidly increasing softwood supply from plantedconifer forests in the uplands has encouraged a series of major investments by companiesinvolved in the manufacture of wood products. Over the last 20 years the British wood processing


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industry has attracted new investments of over 2 000 million (3 000 million Euros), and now hassome of the most advanced wood-using technologies in the world, which also makes increasinguse of recycled fibre and reclaimed timber. However, new markets are required for low-gradehardwood and softwood and market development and value adding is a priority. There isconsiderable potential for low-grade timber and forest residues in biomass markets for heat andenergy.

3.7 Employment

The forestry and primary wood processing industries provide employment for about 30 000 people.More than half are employed in harvesting, haulage and processing and this figure should increasewith future growth in timber production. The total includes forest establishment and maintenance,but also employment in forest recreation, game management and conservation. Additionally, jobsare created indirectly in tourism and support services, all of which contribute to the rural economyand to development.

3.8 Forest Recreation

Forests and woodlands provide an ideal environment for many recreational pursuits and, withappropriate planning, are able to absorb the pressures of large numbers of visitors. Recent yearshave seen the development of new woodlands near to towns managed with the primary purpose ofproviding public access and recreation. In addition to rights conferred by statute, many forestowners welcome and some make special provision for public access. Most publicly ownedforests, including all FC and DARD owned land, apply a policy of freedom to roam, and encouragea wide variety of recreational activities.

3.9 UK Forest Policy for Sustainable Forest Management

British forest policy on Sustainable Forest Management has evolved over the last decade inresponse to the commitments undertaken at the 1992 UNCED conference in Rio (the EarthSummit) and subsequently developed through the processes of the Ministerial Conferences onProtection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE).

For example, in 1998 a set of Pan-European Criteria for Sustainable Forest Management wereadopted which apply to all forest types in Europe. These criteria are:

Maintenance and appropriate enhancement of forest resources and their contribution toglobal carbon cycles

Maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality Maintenance and encouragement of the productive functions of forests (wood and non-

wood)

Maintenance, conservation and appropriate enhancement of biological diversity in forestecosystems Maintenance and appropriate enhancement of protective functions in forest management

(notably soil and water) Maintenance of other socio-economic functions and conditions.

At the UK level, the criteria and standards for Sustainable Forest Management are codified in theUK Forestry Standard. This document (first published in 1998 and in revised form in 2004),supported the subsequent establishment of an independent certification standard (UKWAS) andhas led to the environmental labelling of home grown forest products. These commitments are alsoreflected in the forestry strategies published for England, Scotland, and Wales, each of whichcontain their own support for Sustainable Forest Management.
http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5yxmgdhttp://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/forestry/hcou-4ucf8jhttp://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/forestry/hcou-4u4j98http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5nlkt7http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5nlkt7http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/forestry/hcou-4u4j98http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/forestry/hcou-4ucf8jhttp://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5yxmgd


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TABLE 1: Area of UK Woodland

The area of woodland in the UK at 31 March 2005 is 2.8 million hectares. Of this total, 1.3 millionhectares (47%) is in Scotland, 1.1 million hectares (40%) is in England, 0.3 million hectares (10%)is in Wales and the remaining 0.1 million hectares (3%) is in Northern Ireland.

Privately Owned Woodland

Conifer Broadleaved Total(00 0 s Hectares)

England 217 697 914

Wales 64 113 177Scotland 613 258 871Northern Ireland 10 14 24

United Kingdom 904 1 082 1 986

Forestry Commission Owned Woodland

England 153 52 205Wales 97 12 109Scotland 437 26 463Northern Ireland 58 4 62

United Kingdom 745 95 840

All WoodlandPercentage ofland cover

England 370 750 1 119 8.6%Wales 161 125 286 13.8%Scotland 1 050 284 1 334 17.0%Northern Ireland 68 18 86 6.3%

United Kingdom 1 649 1 167 2 826 11.6%

Source: Forestry Commission, Forest Service and 1995 99 National Inventories of Woodland and Trees.

Notes: 1 Broadleaves include coppice and coppice with standards.

2 Non-FC woodland figures for England, Scotland and Wales are based on the 1995 99 National Inventory ofwoodland and Trees (NIWT) and adjusted for new planting and sales of FC woodland, but at present no adjustmentis made for woodland converted to another land use. They include non-FC publicly owned woodland. The NIWT didnot include Northern Ireland.


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TABLE 2: Division of Woodland Ownership

(000 s Hectares)

GB England Scotland Wales

Forestry Commission 882 223 539 120Other public body (not FC) 45 27 13 5Local authority 80 61 11 8Private forestry or timber business 41 7 28 6Other private business 273 147 101 26Personal 1 110 481 533 96Charity 90 68 14 8Community ownership or common land 5 4 0 1

Unclassified 18 4 13 1

Total 2 545 1 022 1 253 270

Source: Forestry Commission


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TABLE 3: Species of Woodland by Area: Great Britain

(000 s Hectares)

GB England Scotland Wales

Conifers

Scots pine 227 82 140 5Corsican pine 47 41 2 3Lodgepole pine 135 7 122 6Sitka spruce 692 80 528 84Norway spruce 79 32 35 11European larch 23 14 9 1Japanese/hybrid larch 111 33 56 22Douglas fir 45 24 10 11

Other conifer 30 19 5 6Mixed conifer 18 9 8 0

Total conifers 1 406 340 916 149

Broadleaves

Oak 223 159 21 43Beech 83 64 10 9Sycamore 67 49 11 7Ash 129 105 5 19Birch 160 70 78 13Poplar 12 11 0 1Sweet chestnut 12 12 0 1Elm 5 4 1 0Other broadleaves 120 84 18 18Mixed broadleaves 160 91 62 8

Total broadleaves 971 648 206 118

Total all species 2 377 988 1 123 266

Felled 47 15 23 9Coppice 24 22 1 0Open space 217 72 134 11

Total woodland 2 665 1 097 1 281 287



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FIGURE 1: New Woodland Creation since 1972



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SECTION 4: UK FORESTRY STANDARD 2004 (REVISION)

4.1 Introduction

In the opening statement to the revised (2004) UK Forestry Standard, Tony Blair, the PrimeMinister of the United Kingdom stated;

The UK Forestry Standard expresses a vision for our woodlands. It explains the setting in which we have developed guidance and regulation for forestry. The Standard recognises the great range of uses that we make of our woodlands .

4.2 The National Strategic Framework:Securing the future - delivering UK sustainable development strategy

In the consultation on the new UK Sustainable Development Strategy the UK committed itself to

produce a UK strategic framework for sustainable development covering the period up to 2020.This has been agreed by the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations in Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland, to provide a consistent approach and focus across the UK.

This framework, launched in conjunction with the UK Government Strategy, includes:

a shared understanding of sustainable development,a vision of what we are trying to achieve and the guiding principles we all need to follow toachieve it,our sustainable development priorities for UK action at home and internationally, andindicators to monitor the key issues on a UK basis.

4.2 Background

Since the mid 1980s, the UK has placed a high priority on the development of codes of goodenvironmental practice in forestry. The private sector has supported these developments and in1985, played a pioneering role with the publication of the Forestry and Woodland Code by theTimber Growers Association. In 1996, under the auspices of the Institute of Chartered Foresters,many organisations representing a wide range of business and environmental interests in UKforestry signed the UK Forestry Accord . The signatories shared common objectives andprinciples for the future sustainable management and development of forestry in the UK.

In 1995, the Government decided to prepare a UK Forestry Standard which would bring together inone document the criteria and standards for sustainable management of forests in the UK. Thiswas to be done in a way which could be easily understood and would assist in the assessment ofperformance. Two public consultations were carried out; the first draft was circulated in June 1996and the second in August 1997. As well as these public consultations, bilateral consultations tookplace with other government departments and major non-government organisations (NGOs). TheUK Forestry Standard was first published in January 1998 and was welcomed by all stakeholdergroups. The revision (2004) incorporates changes brought about by devolution and otherdevelopments.


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4.3 The UK Forestry Standard

The UK Forestry Standard has been developed specifically for forestry in the United Kingdom. Thehistory of UK forestry and the nature of its woodlands differ fundamentally from those of the rest ofEurope including Scandinavia. However, care has been taken to integrate the Standard withEuropean and global protocols for sustainable development.

The purpose of the UK Forestry Standard is to set out standards for the sustainable managementof all forests and woodlands in the UK. It is the centrepiece of a system to guide and monitorforestry. The Standard is linked to the developing international protocols for sustainable forestry. Itis used in the UK as a basis for the development of forest monitoring and is the basis from whichthe UK Woodland Assurance Standard was developed. It can also be used for assessingcompliance with management certification standards such as ISO 14000 and EMAS.

Guidelines agreed at Helsinki in 1993 and the subsequent Pan-European Criteria for sustainableforestry adopted at the third Ministerial Conference of the MCPFE in Lisbon in 1998 must beinterpreted to put them into a UK context. International criteria and guidelines are expressed inbroad terms which have limited practical value for managers. In developing the UK Forestry

Standard, full account has been taken of existing guidelines and other publications which adviseforest managers on recommended practice. The Standard takes into account the prime aspects ofsustainable forest management: soils, water, air, production, biological diversity, workforce,communities, heritage and landscapes.

4.4 Policies

Throughout the period of forest expansion in the UK, successive governments have had acommitment to the creation and management of forests as a renewable natural resource. In the UKthere has been continuous monitoring and re-assessment of forestry policy to reflect changingpublic attitudes, and the impact of socio-economic changes such as those associated with theCommon Agricultural Policy. Forestry policy in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is adevolved matter. The priorities of each administration are published in their forestry strategies andall are underpinned by the UK Forestry Standard. After the commitments made at the 1992 UnitedNations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, and at the secondMinisterial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) in Helsinki (1993), theGovernment formally adopted a forestry policy to promote sustainability. This was expressed in thefollowing terms:

The sustainable management of our existing woods and forests; andA steady expansion of tree cover to increase the many diverse benefits that forests provide.

Over the years a range of regulatory instruments and incentives have been developed to assistimplementation of forestry policy. Some draw on legislation which is specific to forestry; others arebased on legislation which has wider application. Forest management in the UK is subject to mostof the legislation that regulates other commercial enterprises but, like agriculture, is outside thescope of planning law.


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4.5 Powers

Regulatory mechanisms for forestry in the UK are primarily operated by the Forestry Commission(FC) in England, Scotland and Wales (who are responsible respectively to the forestry minister forthe UK and the forestry ministers of the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales) and bythe Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland (DARD). ForestEnterprise (FE), an agency of the FC in each country, manages the nationally owned forest estatesof Scotland, England and Wales, while in Northern Ireland both regulation of forestry andmanagement of state forests are undertaken by the Forest Service, an agency of DARD. Latersections of this Standard note the role of other bodies, such as local authorities and the statutoryconservation agencies, in regulating forestry in particular circumstances.

4.6 Procedures for Consultation

Before issuing a felling licence or approving a Forest Plan, grant scheme or an FE plan, the FCenters any proposal for felling or for creating new woodland on a Register of New Planting and

Felling. The Register can be viewed on the FC internet site at www.forestry.gov.uk/publicregister ,or at FC conservancy offices.

Weekly updates are also e-mailed to local authorities for public display. The FC allows time foranyone to comment before reaching a decision. Local authorities and other statutory bodies arealso sent details of proposals for areas, or types of application, covered by formal consultation andnotification procedures. If it is not possible to resolve a statutory consultee s objection, the FCcannot give a decision without first referring the matter to the appropriate forestry minister.

The above procedures do not negate requirements for owners to consult with other statutoryagencies with regard to particular woods (e.g. the conservation agencies in the case of Sites ofSpecial Scientific Interest-SSSI). Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), when required, is aformal process involving public consultation and specialist opinion from statutory bodies.

4.7 Linkage to the Helsinki Guidelines and Pan-European Criteria (PEC)

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) was originally developedto provide a framework for national forest certification schemes adopting the concept of sustainableforest management as defined in the Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests inEurope (MCPFE). Consequently, the national schemes applying for PEFC endorsement wereassessed against reference documents developed for the European forestry. In the PEFCprogramme, the Pan European Criteria and Indicators and Pan European Operational LevelGuidelines (PEOLG) establish the framework for the compatibility assessment.

PEOLG were endorsed by the Third Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe(MCPFE) in 1998 as a framework of recommendations for SFM for practical use on a voluntarybasis in European forests. They were to be adapted to local economic, ecological, social andcultural conditions with participation of stakeholders (based on Resolution L2).

According to the Resolution L2, the guidelines serve as a tool to improve communication andawareness building related to sustainable forest management. In addition, although certificationand other quality assurance systems would remain independent from the Pan-European Processand are voluntary to the interested parties, the guidelines could provide an indicative reference forthe establishment of standards for those systems.


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PEOLG are based on the European social and cultural structures and forest managementtraditions. They also address specifically the issues of SFM relevant in the European context.European forests have been under heavy use for centuries, therefore e.g. presence of decayingwood, regulation on grazing of wild and domestic animals and maintenance of habitats created bytraditional management systems are examples of important elements of biodiversity protection.The forests are mostly in boreal or temperate zones, often managed at a forest level, and it isaccepted that there is a need to encourage, where appropriate, un-even aged stand management.The social and labour legislation in European countries is well developed and implemented withthe result that these basic issues are not emphasised in PEOLG.

The UK Forestry Standard is compatible with both the Helsinki Guidelines and the Pan EuropeanCriteria (PEC). These guidelines and criteria necessarily give weight to some issues (such as soilerosion and fire) that are globally important but not usually critical in the UK. The use of nativespecies is also an area of different emphasis: only one native conifer species ( Pinus sylvestris ) iscommercially utilisable for timber, and as a consequence, non-native trees play a major part in UKforestry. Hence, the UK Forestry Standard has less to say about fire and forests for soil protection,and more about non-native species, than might be expected in other European countries.

(See Appendix 1)

Environmental guidelines for forestry were introduced in the UK before the Helsinki MinisterialConference. Therefore these guidelines were not developed around the concepts of criteria andindicators but d irectly addressed practical management issues related to major components of theforest ecosystem or human resource. This practical approach has been deliberately retained as abasis for developing UK criteria and indicators in order to build on guidan ce already familiar toUK forest managers. The components represent the basic components of Forestry Stewardshipand as such are readily with both Helsinki Guidelines and PEC.

In October 2002 the Government published a set of UK indicators of sustainable f

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