Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved.
Institute news
New Cabinet Secretary for forestry in Scotland
The Institute welcomed a Cabinet reshuffle in Scotland that saw Mairi Gougeon MSP take up the new role of Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, which includes the responsibility of forestry and woodlands. Ms Gougeon was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2016 and has previous knowledge of the sector, having been the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment from June 2018 to December 2020. Previously, Scottish forestry policy was in the hands of Mairi McAllan, who has been promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition. Our Executive Director Louise Simpson wrote to Ms Gougeon after the announcement of her appointment to introduce the Institute, and to encourage future engagement. Read the letter here.
Forest Horizons Scan
This month Louise Simpson attended the Forest Horizons Scan roundtable that was hosted and delivered by the University of Cambridge in partnership with Forest Research. Over 40 leaders in the industry, including Fellows and Professionals of the Institute, made up the panel which discussed the final 15 shortlisted novel or emerging issues for our industry over the next 50 years.
ICF Representatives
We recently welcomed two new representatives; Ian Lee MICFor (Tree Radar UK) on the London Urban Forest Partnership, and Charles Dutton FICFor (Charles Dutton & Co) on the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA) research subcommittee. The UKSA subcommittee will contribute to discussions around the grey squirrel fertility control programme, as well as guide and develop various other areas of squirrel research to help deliver the aims of the partnership. If there is a group that you feel the Institute should be represented on, please contact our Senior Technical Officer, Shona Smyth MICFor.
ICF Special Interest Groups
Our Special Interest Groups (SIG) are developing, with the first meeting of the Environmental SIG on Friday 14 April, chaired by John Deakin MICFor. Our Harvesting & Marketing SIG have begun working on a summer article for TREES, focussing on roles and responsibilities. Lastly, bookings are now open for our first SIG-delivered CPD event on 12 July, hosted by Forestry England at Delamere Nursery. The Nurseries SIG also delivered their first #MembersHour, Cell to Sale, where Lea Brandes and Keith Sacre MICFor introduced container-grown tree production.
Consultations
We are currently considering responses to several consultations, all of which can be viewed on our consultations page. We are considering partnering with the Environmental Policy Forum on the Environmental Outcomes Report: a new approach to environmental assessment consultation, and are encouraging members to respond as part of their organisation to the Taxation of environmental land management and ecosystem service markets consultation.
National Conference 2023
Our major event this month is our National Conference 2023, Connecting Trees, Farmers and Foresters, in Birmingham on 25 and 26 April. With agricultural transition across the UK post-EU exit, the biggest change to land management in a generation, this conference is timely and important. We hope it will stimulate debate and engender exciting new collaboration between and within farming and forestry.
Women in Forestry
Finally, Shona Smyth MICFor participated in a promotional video for the Women in Forestry: The Lumberjills Story exhibition that will open in Grizedale Forest on 18 May. The Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Forest Research, and Defra are using the exhibition as an opportunity to celebrate women working in the forestry sector, and to promote the variety of careers on offer for women. Louise Simpson will be attending to speak at the exhibition.
Sector news
- Tree Production Capital Grant closes for applications on 31 May – read
- Call for ideas: Nature for Climate Fund – read
- Forestry goals in Scotland for the new Cabinet Secretary – read
- Welsh Government launch new grant for tiny forests – read
- Green infrastructure for climate resilience – read
- John Clegg & Co’s Forest Market Review 2022 – read
- Rewilding in agriculture to boost biodiversity in England – read
- Plans for a new urban forest in West London – read
- Dr Gabriel Hemery FICFor publishes new book on Scottish woodlands – read
- NRW area statements consultation – read
- Defra update on private and public schemes for farmers and land managers – read
- Confor tell new Cabinet Secretary in Scotland to get industry ‘back on track’ – read
- Guidance updated for the Farming Investment Fund – read
