Woodland certification provides independent assurance that forests are managed responsibly and to a defined standard of sustainability.
Timber sold from such forests will usually get preferential access to timber markets, which can enhance the financial performance of a forest asset. Improved access to timber markets arises because timber processors are increasingly under pressure to supply certified products, which can come only from certified timber. The certification of forests and timber arose from consumer led interest to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests.
We tailor our management systems to accommodate the standards required to meet UKWAS, and so forests can be entered into our scheme smoothly.
Our certification scheme is audited by Soil Association® Woodmark®.
Initially, certification was applied to tropical forests, but it was developed to accommodate temperate forests, including all of the UK’s forests. The largest certification scheme is run by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), an international non-governmental organisation, but fully operational in the UK. Rather than work within the constraints of a single certification scheme, the UK Government created the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS), an independent certification standard for verifying sustainable woodland management in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2012, over 50% of the UK’s 3.1 million hectares was certified.
We currently hold around one third of our management portfolio as certified forest on behalf of clients. Certification of a forest requires an on-going commitment by the owner to adhere to the UKWAS standard. Compliance with the standard is monitored through periodic audits, and involves some management and administration costs. However, these are in many cases more than outweighed by increased timber revenue.
If you would like to discuss the prospect of certification for your woodland, we would be delighted to explore this with you further. Please contact us, either by calling the telephone number opposite or completing the form below:
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