UN publishes first draft of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
A post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is to be adopted when the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity takes place in October 2021. Building on the UN’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, the new framework will respond to the ongoing biodiversity decline and aims to transform society’s relationship […]
ICF Vice President gives keynote speech at Treescapes 2021
Treescapes 2021 this week has been a fantastic showcase of research, packed with presentations and workshop discussions from a huge range of talented tree professionals. Hosted by the Royal Forestry Society and led by early career researchers, it has undoubtedly succeeded in its aim to facilitate conversations between practitioners and academics. Institute Vice President, Geraint […]
Update to the Agricultural Transition Plan in England and Institute response
On 30 June 2021, the Secretary of State has announced the next stage of Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs) development and Defra have published a progress update that sets out the changes: gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-transition-plan-june-2021-progress-update Outline plans As outlined in the Agricultural Transition Plan in November 2020, ELMs comprises three schemes: Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), aimed at farmers […]
Policy Roundup – June 2021
Our monthly policy roundup blog updates you on what the Institute has been getting involved in and what you can get involved in too. Institute Policy & Research It’s been a busy month at the Institute, well balanced with some cautiously increased freedoms including a Bristol team lunch by the harbour. The Accelerating Woodland Creation […]
G7 leaders commit to biodiversity and climate change actions
Held in Cornwall in June 2021, the G7 Leaders’ Summit brought together leading democracies to help the world build back better, and greener, from the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US have agreed to the shared G7 Nature Compact in response to the global climate emergency, committing […]
Welcome to two new Institute Representatives
In May we appointed two new Institute Representatives – Sonia Lorenzo Martín MICFor on the England Woodland Biodiversity Group and Robert South MICFor on the Woodland Carbon Code Advisory Board. In a year when there is rightly so much attention on carbon and biodiversity, Sonia and Robert will be taking forward important work and getting the voice […]
Introducing the England Woodland Creation Offer
Launched alongside the England Trees Action Plan, the Forestry Commission’s England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) opened for applications on 9 June as part of the government’s Nature for Climate Fund. Replacing the Woodland Carbon Fund, EWCO will support the creation of over 10,000 hectares of new woodland, funding predominantly the establishment of large scale native […]
John Parker MICFor appointed CEO of the Arboricultural Association
After five years as Chief Executive Officer of the Arboricultural Association (AA), Stewart Wardrop has announced his retirement and John Parker MICFor, the AA’s current Technical Director, will take over from 1 July 2021. Appointed as the Arboricultural Association’s first Technical Director in August 2019, John has been a major influence in shaping and developing […]
Fourth Woodland Carbon Guarantee auction dates announced
The Woodland Carbon Guarantee (WCaG) is a £50 million Forestry Commission scheme that was established to accelerate woodland planting rates and develop the domestic market for woodland carbon for the permanent removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Announced at the end of May, the next WCaG auction will take place online between 26 […]
Collaboration between professional bodies
Shireen Chambers MBE FICFor, Executive Director of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, met with the CEOs of a number of our fellow professional bodies working in the natural and built environment sectors. This collaboration began in February 2021 with a CEO Roundtable at the Institute’s Trees, People and the Built Environment 4 conference. Participants at […]