Institute of Chartered Foresters President Takes Leading Role in Forest Science and Innovation
The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) is delighted to announce that its President Professor Julian Evans OBE, BSc, PhD, DSc, FICFor has been appointed by the Forestry Commission (FC) as Chair of a new Expert Committee on Forest Science established to support the delivery of the Science and Innovation Strategy (SIS).
His appointment follows an open selection process in May and the Forestry Commission will shortly be issuing a call for notifications from others interested in joining Julian on the committee.
Thrilled at his appointment, Julian commented, “I very much look forward to leading the new committee as it provides advice and expertise to help the Commission. Our aim will be to ensure that the science delivered under the Science and Innovation Strategy for British Forestry is of the highest quality and represents the best value for money in what is a very challenging time for Britain’s trees and forests.”
Previously Chief Research Officer (S) for the Forestry Commission at Alice Holt and also Professor of Forestry at Imperial College London, Julian is the author of many technical books, and was a principal editor of the Encyclopedia of Forest Science (Elsevier 2004), and a past editor of the ICF’s journal, Forestry, so is well placed to lead the committee. Julian also has a long-term research interest in plantation sustainability in Swaziland and silviculture of broadleaved woodland in UK and is a woodland owner, with a 12 hectare site in Hampshire.
The FC is also inviting contributions from interested parties on a draft review of the SIS.The Strategy provides the context and framework for the research undertaken by the Forestry Commission to meet the needs of British forestry. It sets the objectives for future research commissioning programmes and provides indicators for measuring their success.
Evidence delivered through the strategy underpins policy development and operational practice. This is especially important to address the current challenges posed by pests and diseases. However, the research also provides the foundation for the sustainable forest management which is practised in the UK, as set out in the UK Forestry Standard.
The draft strategy document and further information are available from the consultations pages of the Commission’s website at www.forestry.gov.uk/consultations, and the deadline for submitting comments is 4 October 2013.
