Woodland News FSC Aims to Help Small Woods


The latest news for woodland owners and managers Workshops Council introduces fund for woodland owners to certify T


he FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sometimes faces criticism that its forest management standards work best in large


tropical or temperate forests and are not suited to the relatively small and varied woodlands typical in the UK. This may be true to an extent as the size and uniform nature of some large forests elsewhere in the world inevitably provide a few efficiencies of scale. However, FSC is committed to making certification work for the forestry industry as a whole, regardless of the size of concessions or the depth of pockets. The FSC Principles and Criteria are general rules


that can be applied anywhere in the world and for any woodland type. They are then incorporated within a national forest management standard which has been adapted to suit the specific ecosystems found within the country or region. In the UK forest managers can follow the FSC-ordered version of the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS), and FSC is represented on the UKWAS Steering Group, ensuring that the principles and criteria are translated through the Assurance Standard into practical actions that UK forest managers can put into practice on the ground. Interpreting FSC’s requirements into a national certification standard, agreed through consensus obtained within a multi-stakeholder group, remains the most powerful means of adapting FSC requirements to local circumstances. FSC also allows countries some flexibility in


deciding the area size of woodlands that can be regarded as ‘small’. Small woodland managers, often known as smallholders, may provide a lower level of evidence (particularly less documentary recording) to demonstrate to auditors that they meet the requirements of the UKWAS. Auditing frequencies for small woods are also reduced in comparison to larger concessions. In 2012 the upper area threshold for small woodlands in the UK was raised from 100 ha to 500 ha.


Initiatives for owners


In due course there may be progress on two other initiatives for smallholders that have been trialled in recent years. One is a checklist approach to certifying woodland of less than 30ha, whilst a second has examined whether contractors can be certified, and thus be held accountable for the specific parts they play in forest management. Currently owner/managers are responsible for the performance of their contractors, which many argue adds disproportionately to the knowledge and control levels expected of small operators. The area of certified woodland in the UK has


remained static for some years. However, demand for FSC timber in the marketplace continues to grow, and will increasingly encompass emerging products, such as biomass. So, FSC International has launched a fund to support FSC certification among small private, family, and community forest owners. The Smallholder Fund is a project-bound


10 Smallwoods New Year 2014


The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) and Forestry Commission England (FCE) are running a series of workshops across England in January and February to introduce owners and managers to the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) and revised Woodland Management Plans. Cost is £30 a head, with booking at www.charteredforesters.org/ fceplans.


Living Ash Project


A woodland tour organised by FSC in 2008 to celebrate their FSC Friday event


small grant scheme that was created to improve smallholders’ capacity to achieve and maintain FSC certification, to strengthen their ability to benefit from the FSC system, and to increase supply of FSC certified materials. “Smallholders are a cornerstone of the FSC


system,” says Kim Carstensen, Director General of FSC International. “This fund is designed to help them – and the forests they manage – benefit from the FSC marketplace”. In 2013 grants totalling €420,000 were


awarded to 30 smallholders around the world, including Kilfinan Community Forest Company in the UK. Jamie Chaplin-Brice, Forest Operations Manager at Kilfinan Community Forest welcomed the grant: “We are very grateful to the FSC Smallholder Fund, as certification will make a big difference to the marketability of our product longer term. The grant will cover many of the costs associated with certification and surveying.” Any small, low-intensity and community


producers who are interested in FSC certification can access the FSC Smallholder Portal via the FSC International website (www.fsc.org). The portal provides information about certification, technical guidance and financial support. In addition the portal features smallholder news and case studies. FSC International is also developing small and community labelling options to distinguish products from small and community producers in the market. “We know the benefits of FSC certification


for landowners of all sizes, but smallholders face some unique challenges. With relatively modest amounts of support, we can help create new opportunities for these landowners and managers,” says Carstensen. FSC UK has recently appointed Dr Owen Davies


as Forest Standards Manager; he can be contacted via the FSC UK office for advice on FSC forest management certification in the UK.


The Earth Trust, Future Trees Trust, Sylva Foundation and Forest Research have joined forces to create the Living Ash Project, which aims to identify ash trees with resilience to Chalara Dieback. Based on evidence from Denmark, some 1% of UK ashes should be resistant. Funded by Defra, the Living Ash Project aims to secure ash trees that show resistance, screening for those likely to be suitable for timber production. Project partners have been working on improving ash stock through selective breeding already, but now need the public to help identify trees that are not killed by the disease. To learn more, or to support the project by tagging healthy ash trees, go to www.livingashproject.org.uk.


Bats and Trees


Cumbria Woodlands are running a Bats and Trees Awareness Course on 21st January near Newby Bridge. Costing £90 a person and run by Rich Flight of Lloyd Bore, the one-day session is aimed at owners, managers, foresters and arborists, and will offer a basic understanding of bats, and how they use trees, as well as methods of identifying trees that might contain bat roosts. To learn more or book, call Sarah on 01539 822140 or email her at sarah@ cumbriawoodlands.co.uk.


British Grown


The campaign to encourage greater use of British timber and woodland products gained significant momentum with the publication of the initial Grown in Britain report to coincide with Grown in Britain Week in October (www.growninbritain.org). You can sign up to support the campaign at the website.


www.smallwoods.org.uk Coppice Sale


A new strategy encouraging the improvement of broadleaved trees in Britain and Ireland, building on the work done by the British and Irish Hardwood Improvement Programme was launched in the autumn. Produced by The Future Trees Trust, the Earth Trust and Forest Research, the strategy report explains that the aim is to encourage greater use of improved stock for trees, developed by selective breeding, to make trees more disease resistant and produce better timber. The strategy has clear objectives and targets, leading to a policy framework that will encourage the planting of improved broadleaved trees. For details visit www.futuretrees.org.


Trust Praises Research Benefits Director Bob Stubbs reports on work done by SFT


M


any woodland owners, whether their woods are large or small, may not appreciate the need for


research in forestry, by Forest Research, the Building Research Establishment (BRE), Trada (Timber Research and Development Association) and universities. Most research has been funded directly by government or through the EU, but over the last 30 years the Scottish Forestry Trust (SFT) has also supported a wide range of projects investigating fundamental issues such as the genetic make-up of trees and the structure of cell walls in trees. Other subjects have been more applied such as measuring the strength properties of timber of various species and measuring the carbon uptake by trees. In total, SFT has supported more than 150 projects. The Scottish Forestry Trust was set up in


1983 by the gifting of share capital of the Scottish Woodland Owners Association. In 1986 the Trustees of the Scottish Forestry Trust received an offer from the management of SWOAC to buy back the shareholding and in December 1986, the Trust received a cash sum of £1.52 million which has been actively fund-managed ever since. The Trust has a UK-wide remit and has supported more than 150 projects. Remarkably, SFT has spent nearly £2.2m since 1986 and are currently achieving a project leverage of nearly 5:1 so potentially, we have helped to stimulate over £12m worth of research, education and training projects since we were established. Our original capital injection has now grown to £2.67m. Most people and organisations in the


forest sector will probably have benefitted from a project that the Trust has helped to fund. Funding for 'forest' research is changing, with an increasing need to study


www.smallwoods.org.uk


the impact of climate change on trees, the issues of tree diseases, the timber properties of species that might be planted instead of trees suffering from disease and improve knowledge of kiln drying and the preservative treatment of wood. Education has been undergoing rapid


change and many students now have to take out personal loans to obtain a university qualification. One of SFT's objectives is to help 'forestry' education financially, with training projects another way of ensuring that experienced people are available to work in the forest sector in the future. The Trustees have recently supported a project to train people in biodiversity assessments across various communities in Central Scotland. To help educate the public, the Trust has supported a range of projects, including a book on poetry related to trees, a film on David Douglas, a forthcoming book on the social history of forestry in Scotland and a memorial to the Lumberjills at Aberfoyle. To raise awareness of its work, the SFT is


now distributing an e-newsletter three times a year, for which you can sign up at www. scottishforestrytrust.org.uk/newsletter.asp. Although the Trust's income, which it uses to finance projects, comes from investments, it could help more young people in their education and training and fund more research work with additional capital. Small and large donations are always welcome, as are legacies, which can in some cases also bring IHT benefits. Further details can be obtained from the Trust's website. All have the potential to provide lasting benefits to the forestry and arboricultural sector and particularly to those working in and owning woods in the UK both now and in the future.


There is a Coppice Tool Sale on Saturday 1st February at Pepenbury, near Tunbridge Wells, Kent. It is a bring and buy, organised by Toby Allen and others, with donations going to Pepenbury, which supports adults with learning difficulties and other disabilities. "Everyone is welcome," says Toby, "and there has already been lots of interest. There have been hints of good tools coming, including chainsaws and parts, a trailer, hand tools, power tools and much more." Toby says that the event will be informal, with the aim for the day to be fun. "We'd like to break up the felling season, while raising money for a good cause." Donations will be taken at the gate, and Toby is hoping anyone who has a particularly successful day will show their gratitude to Pepenbury (below). "They have a multitude of small animals, a woodland walk (above) with a maze and some lovely coppice, so bring the kids. There is also a great cafe on site which will be selling all the usual refreshments."


Details The event starts at 10.30am, and you can get more details from Toby at toby@sayitwithwood.co.uk or 07811852704.


New Year 2014 Smallwoods 11


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