CONFOR has expressed concern UKWAS's new 5.0 standard could affect the supply of certified wood. 

The industry body believes updated requirements around game pens – which would see these having to be removed from areas of high conservation value – could see landowners prioritise game shooting over timber production. 

While Confor welcomed the release of the revised standard and fully supports existing rules on game pens, it says anecdotal evidence "shows that some estates have already decided that this is ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’ and have left UKWAS".

Confor further claims "many more" will follow "in the coming years unless we can show that this problem is being addressed and a suitable solution is found".

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HCVs include Ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW), Plantation on ancient woodland (PAWS), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM), Special Protection Areas (SPA), Ramsar Sites, National Nature Reserves and other priority habitats as listed by relevant national authorities.

Given the number of woodlands that are ASNW or PAWs and also act as game release pens, Confor says this has the potential to cause disruption in the supply of certified material.

In a statement, it said: "In the spirit of UKWAS you can not remove small areas of your woodland that you don’t want certified so landowners are given a stark choice – remove game release pens from HCV areas or drop out of certification. 

"Given the often much higher income that game shooting brings to estates compared to timber values it is highly likely that many will choose game shooting."

According to Confor, the UKWAS steering group agreed at its meeting in November to explore making an amendment to these sections. Interested parties are now collecting evidence to present their case in writing prior to a vote at the next meeting in May 2025. It is then for the steering group to agree, by consensus, whether to proceed with a formal amendment process.

If there is agreement for a formal amendment, the process is the same as for any other revision. The UKWAS revision working group will agree a new set of requirements, which will then go to public consultation and then to both PEFC and FSC for their approval. This should give sufficient time for existing certificate holders as existing pens do not need to be removed until 1 December 2026.

UKWAS's revised 5.0 standard has already made the headlines after it was revealed it had only been endorsed by PEFC and not FSC International, meaning certificate holders currently need to be certified to two versions of the certification - UKWAS 4.0 and UKWAS 5.0. 

Speaking after being unveiled as UKWAS's new chair, Ben Gunneberg said: "Until the FSC revision process is concluded, PEFC certificate holders will be audited to UKWAS 5 while FSC certificate holders will continue to be audited to UKWAS 4. This is far from ideal for certificate holders and our priority is securing FSC International’s approval as soon as possible.”

Confor is currently conducting a survey on the changes and this can be filled in here.