Recommendation 31

The UK Forestry Standard underpins regulation of the sustainability of the nation’s forests and plays an important role in ensuring that renewed efforts to increase timber supply do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Yet the existence of the standard is not proof that the nation’s forests are being managed sustainably. We are concerned by reports that compliance with this important standard is not being monitored throughout the lifetime of England’s forests and reports that Forestry England lacks labour resource to carry out routine monitoring. Without regular monitoring, Forestry England cannot be sure that forests are being managed sustainably to the UKFS beyond the establishment phase.