Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved.
Institute news
Trees, People and the Built Environment 5
From the 23-24 April, all Institute staff attended our annual National Conference, Trees, People and the Built Environment 5. The conference brought together leading professional institutes and groups from across these sectors, to examine and collaborate on two very different roles for trees – how they can improve the quality of place for both people and nature and how they can contribute to the net zero ambition for buildings and the environment.
This two-day hybrid conference was chaired by Kevin McCloud MBE FICFor (Hon) and Gary Newman. Each day started with a Big Debate, with leaders from across the built and natural environment sectors highlighting the opportunities and challenges of timber in the built environment.
Each session was curated by one or more of the partner organisations and the Institute’s own session, Commercial Outputs from the Urban Forest, took place on Day Two, chaired by our Technical Policy Manager, Shona Smyth MICFor. The session explored the benefits and challenges of having commercial assets within an urban environment including social and economic and identified that there is a need for improved knowledge sharing and collaboration to drive societal change to gain maximum value of our commercial assets, through improving our understanding of the circular economy and its application to wood.
Institute launches Technical membership
We were also delighted to announce the launch our Technical membership on 11 April. Institute members voted to introduce the new category at the AGM in May 2021, to support and recognise an under-represented cohort of arboriculturists and foresters working in roles that require high levels of skill, competence, and professionalism. Designed to confer a mark of practical experience and professional credibility on those who successfully achieve Technical Member status and help raise the professional profile of arboriculturists and foresters to the general public.
Commenting on the introduction of Technical membership, Dr Stuart Glen, Member Services Director at the Institute, said:
“The Institute firmly believes that Technical membership will elevate the reputation of these technical roles within the sector, outwith the sector and with the wider public. The introduction of a Technical membership category will ultimately raise professional standards, and serve to address any gaps in the skills and professional development needs of this part of the sector.”
Consultations
Responding to public consultations is an important way to influence policy. We consult with members as much as possible and often work in partnership with other organisations to strengthen our messages. We also produce papers on specific topics where it is important to publish our position.
We are currently drafting a response to NatureScot’s consultation on A Biodiversity Metric for Scotland’s Planning System and invite comments from members on the key issues and priorities that have been identified by NatureScot at this stage in the process. This consultation is open until Friday 10 May.
We are also encouraging members to respond to the following consultations:
- Scottish Government: Enabling powers for Scotland’s EIA regimes and Habitat Regulations – closes 13 May 2024
- The British Standards Institution: BSI Flex 701 Nature Markets – Overarching Principles and Framework – closes 7 June 2024
Representation
Our representatives sit on groups, panels, and committees across the sector, actively participating, feeding back developments, and advising us on actions to take. The role of an ICF Representative is a crucial touch point between Institute staff, Council, and members. This month’s representatives’ updates:
Defra Tree Health Policy Group
Tom Jenkins FICFor provided an update of the new pest legislation coming into force on 31 May – this includes a list of new quarantined pests and regulations around Christmas tree imports from Norway. The provisional quarantined pest list is coming into force from 9 November.
Scottish Tree Health Advisory Group
Ben Quarcoo MICFor received the following key updates from sector leads at the last group meeting:
Wood Use and Processing: Markets are quite depressed this year with sawmills and wood processors running at circa. 70% capacity although some are running above that depending on location except for biomass which is buoyant; windblow clearance is ongoing and resulting in a local surplus for biomass in some locations. There is low market interest for larch infected with Phytophthora ramorum.
Plant Production: Good take up of PlantHealthy certification in Scottish nurseries in addition to membership of the Woodland Trust ‘UK sourced and grown’ scheme. Nurseries producing pine are concerned about Curreya pithyophila after recent media coverage.
Society for the Environment Board
SocEnv will be celebrating 20 years on the 4 June and will be combining celebrations with its annual awards at the Royal Society for Chemistry at Burlington House in London. Additionally, the refreshed Soils and Stones Report is due to be published on World Soil’s Day on 5 December.
Special Interest & Steering groups
The Institute’s Special Interest Groups (SIG) aim to represent the needs and interests of different areas in the sector and facilitate increased knowledge exchange. They work to provide relevant CPD and training for members around their areas of expertise, all whilst working towards a shared understanding of what professionalism means across forestry and arboriculture.
Our Harvesting & Marketing SIG held their first Study Tour in March 2024 in South Scotland. Emma Grey, Operations Manager at Scottish Forestry and member of the SIG, has reported back on the Study Tour’s activities and outcomes. Read the blog.
The Environmental SIG are hosting their first professional development day on 5 June that will involve two site visits hosted by Network Rail and the City of London Corporation. Full details & booking.
Lastly, our Arboriculture and Urban Forestry Steering Group are hosting their second Tree Surgery session on 2 May. These informal monthly drop-in sessions are a great opportunity for all members working in forestry, environment, arboriculture and urban forestry to get together to talk all things trees. #TreeSurgery does not have a formal agenda and has been designed for informal networking and knowledge exchange in a relaxed forum. Book your place.
Sector news, guidance and reports
New nurseries supply data published
Forestry Commission
Guide on tree species for agroforestry
University of Reading
Research on wood properties and uses of larch in Great Britain
Forest Research
Scotland’s new rules on wood burning stoves in new build homes
Forestry Journal
Leonardo DiCaprio shares views on rewilding in Scotland
Forestry Journal
Scotland’s biodiversity crisis and the importance of working with landowners
The Scotsman
Trees and biodiversity net gain on small sites
Forestry Commission
App launched to streamline woodland surveys
Sylva Foundation
Test the new Woodland Condition Assessment App
Woodland Condition Assessment
BrewDog criticised for tree-loss at their Lost Forest site in Inverness-shire
The Scotsman
Fashion brands invited to Swinley Forest to see sustainable forest management in practice
PEFC
Harper Adams Future Farm plant rare Black Poplar trees
Harper Adams University
Technical paper on the implications of irregular silviculture for woodland birds, bats and plants in broadleaved woodland
Royal Forestry Society
Inside the project to restore Scotland’s ancient wild pine forests
The Guardian
New Welsh farming minister comments on the future of the scheme to replace EU subsidies
WalesOnline
Scottish Government scrap target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030
BBC
Update on hedgerow regulations
Defra
First tree and woodland strategy published in Devon
Devon Local Nature Partnership
Confor responds to RSE report on the forestry sector in Scotland
Confor
Reducing plastic use in tree planting and woodland creation
Forestry Commission
Watch a video report on March’s Better Forestry Conference in Birnam
Forest Policy Group
Guidance on forestry for historic environment organisations
Forestry Commission
