Institute signs joint letter to the Prime Minister & Chancellor on the value of nature
Today, the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) published a letter sent to the Prime Minister and Chancellor on behalf of 11 professional bodies, including the Institute of Chartered Foresters, in the UK who are deeply concerned about increasing tension between growth and nature. We argue that the idea of choosing between housing […]
Government publishes findings from Environmental Improvement Plan rapid review
Steve Reed OBE, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has published an interim statement on the strategic findings from the rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) that was launched in July 2024. The statement also provides an update on future plans for revising the EIP. We welcome the review of […]
Defra opens consultation on Land Use Framework
The UK Government has launched the much-anticipated Land Use Consultation, kickstarting a 12-week period that will help to shape our natural and built environments in England for decades to come. This consultation presents the government’s assessment of the scale of land use change required to meet Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) and Climate Change Act targets, […]
Strong roots in woodlands and forestry championed at Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2024
A bumper year of entries saw excellence in all sectors, from community to forestry, conservation to farming and climate to schools. And each was showcased during a grand ceremony at the Scottish Parliament. Local groups, farmers, foresters and large estates were all recognised at the national event, held by Scotland’s Finest Woods to coincide with […]
Have your say on woodland management & protected species
Natural England and the Forestry Commission are working together to better understand the interactions between woodland management operations and protected species. Woodland managers have an important opportunity to demonstrate the measures they undertake already for protected species when carrying out woodland operations by responding to this survey. We are encouraging our members who are woodland […]
First commercial tree nursery launched in UK prison
Forests with Impact, an award-winning, industry-led social enterprise, has officially launched at HMP Haverigg in Cumbria, setting a new standard in social and environmental impact by creating commercial tree nurseries within the UK prison system. This pioneering programme tackles two of society’s biggest challenges – supporting prisoner rehabilitation and addressing the climate emergency. The launch […]
Support for new e-learning programme grows as the new UKFS comes into force
A new e-learning programme designed to provide an alternative way of accessing the latest version of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) which came into effect on 1 October, has been backed by the profession’s government-run agencies. Created and developed by the Institute of Chartered Foresters with funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural […]
Marking 20 years of Chartered Environmentalists
Friday 20 September 2024 marks 20 years since the first Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) certificates were signed. “If not now, when?” is the message from the Society for the Environment (SocEnv) to those wanting to lead the way towards a more sustainable future. SocEnv was launched in 2002 to champion competence in environmental practices across sectors. […]
Read about our Environmental SIG’s Professional Development Day
In June, our Environmental Special Interest Group (SIG) held its first in-person event with two site visits hosted by Network Rail and the City of London Corporation. Gordon Pfetscher FICFor, SIG member and Head of Estate at the Woodland Trust, attended this event and has reported back on the day’s activities. Site One – Network […]
UK Government appoints new Minister for forestry
With a new Labour government now in power, Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has appointed his cabinet, including Steve Reed OBE as the Secretary of State with overall responsibility for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). On 18 July 2024, Mary Creagh (elected MP for Coventry East) was announced as Defra’s […]
