The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) has launched a new online training course designed to bring the best practice principles of the UK Forestry Standard to non-foresters.
The course is based on the technical standard for sustainable forestry in the UK, which is not widely known or accessed outside of the forestry sector – and yet its principles should form the basis for any decision-making involving trees and woodlands.
The one-hour training course delivers, via an engaging and easy-to-use platform, valuable insights and guidance on sustainable forestry practices to forestry-adjacent professionals, including farmers, landowners, conservationists, environmentalists, climate professionals, businesses and investors in natural capital, local authority planners, policy officers, and others whose roles involve the management of trees and woodlands.
Louise Simpson, Executive Director at the Institute of Chartered Foresters, commented:
“I am so pleased that we are able to launch the UKFS for Non-Foresters online training. The UK Forestry Standard underpins everything we do as a profession, but it is vitally important that allied professionals – landowners, ecologists, planners, surveyors, environmental groups and many others – have a working knowledge of this framework. The more people who understand the principles of sustainable forestry, the stronger and more resilient our sector will become.
“This course is about opening doors and making the UKFS accessible, so that anyone with an interest in woodlands can feel confident engaging with forestry. By broadening understanding beyond our own sector, we are helping to tell the story of a diverse and vibrant forestry industry, ensuring that good woodland management is embedded across the UK.”
Features and benefits of the UKFS for Non-Foresters training course include:
- Encouraging cross-sector engagement: The UKFS isn’t just for foresters – it affects farming, conservation, planning, land-use policy and many other sectors. This course is vital for anyone whose work involves trees, woodlands and forests.
- Making the UK forestry sector’s technical standard more accessible: Designed for non-foresters, the course offers a concise, essential introduction to the principles that underpin tree planting, woodland creation and sustainable land management in the UK.
- Providing quick and easy access to insights and knowledge: With just one hour of learning, the course removes barriers to engagement and encourages wider understanding of the key principles of sustainable forest management.
For more information or to register, visit the UK Forestry Standard for Non-Foresters website.
