THREE forestry industry bodies have outlined their top priorities for the England Tree Strategy (ETS), in a joint response to the recent consultation.

The Institute of Charted Foresters, Confor, and the Royal Forestry Society said they welcomed the chance to engage with the ETS and are committed to working with DEFRA on its design and delivery.

The joint response has distilled the key collective messages from each body’s separate responses into six top priorities:

1. HAVE A CLEAR FOCUS

In order to achieve the scale of change needed, the strategy must have a clear focus. Multiple objectives make it difficult to identify and develop the best delivery mechanisms. The strategy also needs the political will and cross-government support to drive it forward and give it read-across to green recovery and other schemes like Environmental Land Management.

2. DEVELOP EFFECTIVE DELIVERY MECHANISMS

The current system of financial incentives and associated bureaucracy is a major barrier and needs to be overhauled. The bottom line is that woodland creation and management need to be commercially viable for the landowner, with long-term guarantees. By creating markets for ecosystem services, trees and woodlands can deliver on all the strategy’s objectives.

3. WORK FROM A SOLID EVIDENCE BASE

The final strategy including all delivery mechanisms and targets must be based on the best available evidence. Research and innovation must take a central role in the strategy, and the sector is ready to support this.

4. BOOST SECTOR SKILLS

The strategy needs a major push on skills and careers in forestry. Government should look to the work of the Forestry Skills Forum to attract more people to the sector and boost existing skills and standards, including in the agricultural sector.

5. SUPPORT MANAGEMENT, NOT JUST CREATION

The strategy must achieve a huge step-up in getting existing woodlands under active, sustainable management – not focus too much on woodland creation.

6. EMBED UKFS

The UK Forestry Standard needs to be enshrined in the design and delivery of the strategy and all types of woodland that comply with UKFS must be supported.

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