EFRA Committee report notes skills shortage risks to tree planting agenda
A worrying report by the EFRA Committee on the tree planting agenda in England recognises the skills crisis as a key barrier to success, quoting evidence put forward by the Institute. Shireen Chambers MBE FICFor was invited to give evidence at the inquiry in 2021, raising multiple challenges in skills and training for the sector […]
Shape Institute response on biodiversity net gain
Last month, Defra opened a consultation on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). This is an approach to development that means habitats for wildlife must be left in a measurably better state than they were before the development and is mandated through the Environment Act. The way this is implemented will have a significant impact on all […]
Help shape the new National Forest for Wales
The Welsh Government’s plans to create a National Forest for Wales aims to form a connected network of woodlands throughout the country bringing social, economic and environmental benefits. An online interactive map has just been launched to understand where the public would like to see more trees planted by dropping a pin on the area. […]
Woodland Creation Planning scheme in Wales opens
The Welsh Government’s new Woodland Creation Planning scheme opened today and offers grants between £1,000 and £5,000 to develop plans for woodland creation. Based on the pilot scheme in 2021, successful applications will be selected every six weeks with funding available from August. There is currently £500,000 available for claims submitted by 31 March 2023. […]
Policy Roundup – February 2022
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 the Institute brought together a group of 20 senior practitioners and leads in organisations across the sector to discuss environmental land management and agricultural transition in England. It is rare […]
Lead Ammunition and the UKWAS Standard…A Response
Following Richard White MICFor’s thoughts on the proposed ban on lead-based ammunition in UKWAS certified woods, Jonathan Spencer MBE, formerly Head of Environment for Forest England and a Member of the UKWAS Revision Working Group, responds… Lead has long been known to be a very toxic metal and recreational shooting and game management remain the last […]
Lead Ammunition and the UKWAS Standard…Opinion
In response to the proposed ban on lead-based ammunition in UKWAS certified woods, Richard White MICFor contacted the Institute to outline his views on the matter. I am very concerned about the proposed ban on lead-based ammunition in UKWAS certified woods. I do not believe this proposal is based on good science. My understanding is that […]
Institute leads discussion on agricultural transition
On Wednesday 2 February the Institute brought together 20 senior practitioners and experts from across the sector to discuss the government’s plans for Environmental Land Management (ELM) and Agricultural Transition in England. This was based on the group we convened to produce an ELM position paper in 2019 and sector response to the 2020 consultation. […]
Landscape Recovery scheme opens for applications
The Landscape Recovery pilot, one of Defra’s three new environmental land management schemes, has just launched its first round aimed at farmers and land managers. Designed to achieve the Prime Minister’s ambition to deliver at least 10 large-scale areas devoted to landscape and ecosystem recovery by 2024, pilot projects will focus on: recovering and restoring […]
Policy Roundup – January 2022
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute News On Monday 10 January we had a very constructive meeting with forestry minister Lord Goldsmith and the forestry policy team at Defra on skills, following our position paper in the autumn. We […]