Introduction
The Certification Project will run for 3 years within The Mersey Forest and Red Rose Forest areas.
The project is part of the long-term work that the two Community Forests are implementing to create economic, social and environmental benefits through an increase in woodland cover.
The project will:
- identify and evaluate appropriate incentive and support mechanisms for small woodlands seeking certification
- increase the uptake of certification for small woodlands thereby bringing them into sustainable management
- evaluate what certification delivers in terms of the economic, social and environmental outputs of small woodlands
- evaluate how any benefits which are achieved can be maintained
What is Certification?
Woodland certification is a way of independently proving that woodlands are sustainably managed with respect to economic, social and environmental criteria. In the UK standards of management are assessed to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS). This was developed by a group representing a wide range of organisations. Timber from certified woodlands can carry the certification label guaranteeing that it comes from a well-managed forest.
What is the certification standard?
The Standard identifies the requirements of management and how they are verified. It has been designed to apply to all woodlands in the UK regardless of their size or complexity. The Standard therefore has to address many different situations, only some of which apply to small woodlands. A woodland may already meet many of the requirements or could easily meet through minor changes to the current practices. Woodlands in the UK are generally well managed – certification provides the independent assurance to the public that this really is the case.