Helping shape a more constructive approach to engagement in forestry
The Institute is proud to have contributed to the development of the new document Guidelines for Respectful and Constructive Engagement in Forestry Management (Scotland), published by Confor. These guidelines were developed collaboratively with partners from across the forestry sector, including Scottish Forestry, Forestry and Land Scotland, Scottish Woodlands, Tilhill Forestry and the Scottish Land Commission. […]
Institute signs joint letter urging Defra to publish Circular Economy Growth Plan
In May 2026, the Environmental Policy Forum (EPF) wrote to Emma Reynolds MP, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. The EPF is a coalition of 17 professional bodies and learned societies, including the Institute, that promote environmental sustainability and resilience for the public benefit. What we are calling for: In the […]
Exploring natural methods to protect trees from large herbivores
Student member of the Institute, Alexandros Theodorou, has recently published a methods paper, Natural Methods to Protect Trees Against Large Herbivores: A Systematic Mapping Protocol, and is now conducting an evidence synthesis to collate research on “natural” tree protection methods. These methods, such as nurse plants, brash, debris, hedges, and logs, offer cost-effective, ecologically sustainable […]
Policy: Protecting London’s Urban Forest in a Changing Climate
The Institute of Chartered Foresters has responded to the Future Climate Suitability of London’s Public Realm Trees report, published in November 2025 and authored by Dr Andrew Hirons and Kevin Martin: The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) fully supports the findings from Future Climate Suitability of London’s Public Realm Trees and calls for swift and decisive action to prevent avoidable […]
Call for Expert Committee on Forest Science members
The Board of Forestry Commissioners established the Expert Committee on Forest Science (ECFS) to provide independent, expert advice and assurance on the quality of science and evidence provided by the Forestry Commission’s (FC) research agency Forest Research (FR) and other providers. As a committee member there is an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the […]
Help gather evidence of grey squirrel damage to trees
A major survey to assess the damage caused to trees and woods by non-native grey squirrels – last estimated to cost England and Wales £37 million a year – is being launched across the UK. The UK Squirrel Accord is asking landowners, managers and anyone with owner permission to carry out tree damage surveys in […]
Halfway update from Emyr Parker on forestry exchange in New Zealand
Emyr Parker is one of two candidates selected for the Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Programme (2024-2025) and is spending three months in New Zealand working for Juken NZ. Emyr has shared a halfway update on his experience on the exchange programme. Having spent the first half of my exchange at Masterton, I had the opportunity […]
Institute signs joint letter to the Prime Minister & Chancellor on the value of nature
Today, the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) published a letter sent to the Prime Minister and Chancellor on behalf of 11 professional bodies, including the Institute of Chartered Foresters, in the UK who are deeply concerned about increasing tension between growth and nature. We argue that the idea of choosing between housing […]
Defra opens consultation on Land Use Framework
The UK Government has launched the much-anticipated Land Use Consultation, kickstarting a 12-week period that will help to shape our natural and built environments in England for decades to come. This consultation presents the government’s assessment of the scale of land use change required to meet Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) and Climate Change Act targets, […]
Have your say on woodland management & protected species
Natural England and the Forestry Commission are working together to better understand the interactions between woodland management operations and protected species. Woodland managers have an important opportunity to demonstrate the measures they undertake already for protected species when carrying out woodland operations by responding to this survey. We are encouraging our members who are woodland […]