New Defra Secretary appointed
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed former health secretary Steve Barclay as the new Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). This comes after former Defra Secretary, Thérèse Coffey, who was appointed in October 2022 stood down as part of a government cabinet reshuffle. A qualified solicitor, Steve […]
New study led by Chartered Forester predicts catastrophic forest ecosystem collapse
An article published in the Institute’s Scientific journal, Forestry, has hit the headlines this week after the results from a recent horizon scanning exercise were published warning of the multiple emerging threats to woodlands, including tree disease and extreme weather, in the next 50 years. Funded by Forestry England, the study was led by Chartered […]
Summit to focus minds on woodland creation process
Industry leaders from the forestry and land management sectors will meet in Perthshire next month to agree additional actions to boost the creation of new woodlands in Scotland. The Woodland Creation Summit will be chaired by Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon and held on Tuesday 12 December at the Battleby Conference Centre. During the day […]
Policy Roundup – October 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news On 28 September, the Institute’s Executive Director Louise Simpson attended the Trees and Trains: Growing Green Corridors conference hosted by Network Rail and the Forestry Commission. Louise joined delegates from across government […]
Leading professional institutes to gather for Trees, People and the Built Environment 5
Early Bird Tickets now available Conference at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham and Online – 23 & 24 April 2024 How can trees contribute to the quality of place for both people and nature? How can they contribute to net zero ambitions for our built and natural environments? Kevin McCloud MBE FICFor (Hon), host of Channel 4’s popular […]
UK Forestry Standard review – publication of the fifth edition
The fifth edition of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) was published on 3 October, following an extensive review process. The aim of the review was to ensure the UKFS remains upto date, balanced in terms of the social, economic and environmental principles of sustainable forest management, and applicable across the UK. It was overseen by […]
Call for productive forestry & forest carbon cycling experts on Defra group
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is inviting applications for two new members on the Trees and Woodlands Scientific Advisory Group (TaW-SAG), an advisory, Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). TaW-SAG was established in 2021 and provides independent expert advice, challenge and scientific support to Defra specialists and policy makers in matters related to […]
Sir Harry Studholme FICFor (Hon) joins Treeconomics as Chairman
Treeconomics has appointed Institute Honorary Fellow Sir Harry Studholme FICFor (Hon) as Chairman. Sir Harry’s relationship with Treeconomics dates back to the company’s first iTree report on the Torbay Urban Forest. He has had a long interest in urban forestry and was Chair of the Forestry Commission between 2013 and 2020. Sir Harry owns and […]
Institute President & Executive Director meet with Mairi Gougeon MSP
On 21 September, the Institute’s President, Geraint Richards MVO FICFor, and Executive Director, Louise Simpson, were invited to meet with Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon. During the meeting, Geraint and Louise highlighted the broad range of tree professionals that the Institute represents, and how the Institute is a crucial organisation […]
Policy Roundup – September 2023
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news This month we have been busy out networking at various conferences and events. On the 6 and 7 September, the Institute’s Senior Events Coordinator, Ella Smith, and Senior Technical Officer, Shona Smyth […]