Scottish Woodlands operate a Group Certification Scheme ratified by the Independent Certification Body of 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 woodlands are consistently monitored to ensure that, as well as producing timber on a sustainable basis, they provide environmental and conservational benefits.

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 members are clients of Scottish Woodlands where the Company manages the woodlands.
• Associate members are those who either manage their own woodlands or the management is undertaken by a third party.

Both types of member would sign the Group Scheme Constitution to agree to abide by the principles of UKWAS (minimum 5-year period).

The key requirements of UKWAS are as follows:

• A signed commitment to the standard
• A management plan with a vision for development of the forest, objectives, background data, maps and necessary permissions.
• Management plan to be based on sound information. This will require monitoring of appropriate objectives.
• Commercial operations should be well managed and introduce diversity into the woodland ecosystem.
• Need to focus on biodiversity.

As part of the requirements of the revised UKWAS (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 here 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.

Forest owners and managers need to act as responsible citizens, carrying out consultation with neighbours prior to activities which would impact significantly on them.

To gain certification status the management system employed in the forest may not need to be changed. What is necessary is to carry out a pre-assessment to asertain whether the woodland currently meets the UKWAS standard and, if there are shortcomings, agree on how these can be addressed. In addition, key features that require monitoring will have to be identified.

In March 2004 the SWL Group Certification Scheme was subject to a renewal audit by accreditation body SGS. The initial 5-year period expired at the end of May 2004 and our new certificate was issued on the 1st June 2004. Aa part of the UKWA standard a monitoring summary has been prepared and this can be found at this link.

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 at the 31st October 2006 our scheme has 156 members, totaling 59861ha these consist of 18 associates and 138 full members, located from Cornwall to the Highlands of Scotland.

If you would like any further information on Scottish Woodlands Group Scheme then please contact our Group Scheme Manager:

Garry MacInnes
Tel: +44 (0)131 451 5154
Fax: +44 (0)131 451 5146
E-mail: Garry.MacInnes@scottishwoodlands.co.uk