Details

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

The 5th edition applies from 1 October 2024 for all woodland creation and management activity in England. This followed a 12-month transition period to allow relevant guidance to be updated and draft woodland plans to be finalised.

Grant applications and regulatory approvals received before 1 October 2024 will be assessed using the 4th edition. Existing approvals under the 4th edition remain valid.

Updated good forestry practice requirements will be applied to existing woodland plan approvals at the time of their next renewal.

The UKFS 5th edition was published on 3 OctOctober 2023 following the completion of an extensive review process. Read further information on the review process, including consultation responses at Scottish Forestry UK Forestry Standard.

UKFS 4th edition

You can read the previous UK Forestry Standard (4th edition) at The National Archives.

Purpose of the UKFS

The The UKFS is is based on sustainable forest management criteria agreed internationally and implemented in a way that is appropriate to the UK. It is intendedaimed toat be used by professional forestersforesters, such as forest owners, managers and practitioners, regulators and advisers. It will also be of interest to other land managers and stakeholders.

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The UKFS covers important elements of sustainable forest management, including:

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

Supporting guidance from Forest Research

Read Forest Research’s technical and practice guides and notes in UKFS tools and resources.

Implementing the UKFS

The main bodies responsible for regulating, monitoring and implementing the UKFS are:

• The Forestry Commission (England)
• Scottish Forestry
• Natural Resources Wales
• Northern Ireland Forest Service

These bodies assess forestry proposals against the UKFS before giving approval, and carry out checks to ensure woodland owners and managers comply with forestry regulations. Arrangements for implementing and monitoring the standard will vary between the 4 countries.

Background to the UKFS

The UKFS reflects international agreed commitments and other relevant biodiversity and climate change related commitments. It ensures they are carried out in a way that is appropriate to the UK.

Internationally agreed criteria on sustainable forest management stems from the 1992 ‘Rio Earth Summit’ and the resulting UN Statement of Forest Principles. This has now evolved into the globally agreed Global Forest Goals and Targets 2030, agreed by the UN Forum on Forests.

The UK, through Forest Europe, (previously known as the ‘Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe’), recently signed ministerial declarations reaffirming our commitment to sustainable forest management and protection. These provide a framework and policy tools (through operational level guidelines, criteria and indicators) for countries to implement, leaving room for national adaptation. In the UK, the UKFS carries out the framework and guidelines.

UKFS 4th edition

Read the previous UK Forestry Standard (4th edition) at The National Archives.