Forest Management: Certification
Scottish Woodlands operate a Group and Resource Manager Certification Scheme ratified by the independent accreditation body the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The woodlands within the scheme are managed in line with the principles of the United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS).
The principle aim of certification is to improve forest management and enhance multiple values from the forest. In addition, certification will maintain and improve market access for forest products. Independent third party audits of the forest ensure that the forest meets the key standards of UKWAS.
Scottish Woodlands Group Scheme has two membership categories:
Full (Resource Manager) members are clients of Scottish Woodlands where the Company manages the woodlands.
Associate (Group Scheme) members are those who either manage their own woodlands or the management is undertaken by a third party.
Both types of member are required to sign a Group Scheme Constitution to agree to abide by the principles of UKWAS and to manage their woodlands in line with the FSC Principles and Criteria (for a minimum 5-year period).
The sections of UKWAS are as follows:
- Compliance with the law and conformance with the requirements of the certification standard
- Management planning
- Woodland design: creation, felling and replanting
- Operations
- Protection and maintenance
- Conservation and enhancement of biodiversity
- The community
- Forestry workforce
As part of the requirements of the UKWAS 2nd Edition (effective as of 1 November 2006) woodland owners / managers must take efforts to make local people and relevant organisations aware of the fact that particular woodlands or forests are being evaluated for certification, and allow a period of at least 30 days for public response before that woodland is certified.
Scottish Woodlands Ltd carry out a formal pre-assessment of all woodlands being considered for inclusion in our Group certification scheme. In response to the above requirement for public consultation, all woodlands currently being evaluated for certification via the Scottish Woodlands Ltd scheme will be listed in the Group Scheme Public Consultation list (see link below) for a minimum period of 30 days prior to certification. In addition, and as per section 7.1.1 of the revised UKWAS, local offices may utilize further methods of making local people aware - such as the use of signs in or at the entrances to candidate woodlands, information in local newspapers and local shops, and/or letters to neighbouring owners and interested parties.
In March 2004 the Scottish Woodlands Ltd Group Certification Scheme was subject to a renewal audit by our certification body SGS. The initial 5-year period was up for renewal at the end of May 2004 and our new certificate was issued on the 1st June 2004. A monitoring summary of the first 5-year period was prepared and this can be found in the Group Certification Scheme document.
In March 2009 Scottish Woodlands Ltd successfully underwent our second renewal audit and the third version of our certificate was issued on 1 June 2009, further expanded to include the FSC Controlled Wood accreditation to its scope. Membership of the Group Scheme is a cost effective way of achieving certification and the Group Scheme operated by Scottish Woodlands is constantly expanding. As of August 2009, our scheme has 192 members, totaling 83,042 ha; these consist of 22 Associates and 170 Full members, located from Devon to the Highlands of Scotland.
Contact:
Group Scheme Manager: Garry MacInnes
Telephone: +44 (0)131 451 5154