EWCO: Changes to Environmental Stewardship agreements
Members should be aware of some recent amendments to Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreements in relation to the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO). These amendments come after the collective work of Defra, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), Natural England and the Forestry Commission. See below an update from the Forestry Commission on these amendments. […]
Policy Roundup – September 2021
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute News Consultation Responses It has been a busy month for policy at the Institute. We published responses to the UKFS review key stakeholder consultation, Scottish Government’s consultation on Delivering Economic Transformation and DAERA’s […]
Help shape the plant biosecurity strategy for Great Britain
A consultation was launched on 21 September 2021 to inform a new plant biosecurity strategy for Great Britain. This GB-wide consultation is directly relevant to anyone who has an interest in, and responsibility towards, plant health. With increasing pressure on trees and woodlands to mitigate the climate and nature crises, there are also unprecedented threats […]
Institute champions sustainable forestry across the UK
One of our greatest strengths as a professional body is our UK-wide remit and responding to consultations is an important way to influence policy and develop partnerships. We recently submitted a response to the UK Forestry Standard Review key stakeholder consultation to express our unwavering commitment to the UKFS and our support for the review […]
Soil Health Action Plan to be launched in England
Announced in a speech in the House of Lords by the Minister of State for the Environment, Lord Goldsmith, the Soil Health Action Plan (SHAPE) will help restore the health of England’s soils and will contribute to the government’s targets on biodiversity. The plan will be a crucial part of Defra’s efforts to halt the […]
Defra announce Tree Health pilot
Announced on 31 August, the Government’s Tree Health pilot will support action against pests and diseases in ash, sweet chestnut, larch and spruce trees in England. The findings from the three-year pilot scheme, delivered by the Forestry Commission, will help develop the future Tree Health scheme that is due to launch in 2024. Defra are […]
Government seeking views on the release of beavers into the wild
Beavers are being reintroduced in the UK after being hunted to extinction 400 years ago. A consultation launched by Defra on Wednesday 25 August is seeking views on the proposed approach to the further reintroduction and the management of the species in the wild in England. Widely referred to as ‘ecosystem engineers’, beavers can play […]
Policy Roundup – August 2021
Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute News EWCO In late July, we held an event hosted by the Forestry Commission on the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO). There was excellent engagement from members who asked some probing questions. Forestry […]
IPCC publish report on impacts of 1.5 °C global warming
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change, providing regular scientific assessments, implications and potential future risks, as well as putting forward adaptation and mitigation options. Published only a few months ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, the special report, Global Warming of 1.5 […]
ICF Executive Director joins National Stakeholder Group
On 28 July 2021, Shireen Chambers MBE FICFor joined a meeting with the new Scotland environment minister Mairi McAllan and a wide range of stakeholders to discuss how best to meet Scottish Government’s ambitions for forestry. It was a hugely positive and collaborative meeting and a chance for the new minister to meet senior players […]