The UK Forestry Standard – 5th Edition October 2023

The 5^th edition of the UK’s Forestry Standard document has been published today (October 3^rd). Multiple references to the use of wood fuel and forest residues for energy are made throughout the document, and with a push towards locking away carbon in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) it shows there is still a potential for energy from biomass within the UK.

Click here to view it: The UK’s Forestry Standard 5th Edition

The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) is the reference standard for sustainable forest management across the UK, and applies to all woodland, regardless of who owns or manages it.

The standard ensures that international agreements and conventions on areas such as sustainable forest management, climate change, biodiversity and the protection of water resources are applied in the UK.

The UKFS outlines the context for forestry in the UK. It sets out the approach of the UK governments to sustainable forest management by defining requirements and guidelines, and providing a basis for regulation and monitoring – including national and international reporting.

This document covers key different elements of sustainable forest management:

• Biodiversity
• climate change
• historic environment
• landscape
• people
• soil
• water