Following a successful initial public consultation in early 2026, the second consultation is now open on the proposed amended wording for Clause 4.10.1 c) of the PEFC-endorsed UKWAS 5.0 standard, which relates to the phased removal of existing game-release pens in certain areas of high conservation value forests.
In May 2025, following a number of stakeholder concerns about its practicability, the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) Steering Group agreed to revisit Clause 4.10.1 c) of the standard, which requires that existing game-release pens in areas of high conservation value are taken out of use over time. The aim of the requirement was to prevent negative impacts on ground flora and fauna on high conservation sites such as ancient woodlands and other protected areas.
The proposed amendment to the requirement is considered by both UKWAS and PEFC to be a formal revision to the standard, and due process will need to be followed in accordance with the UKWAS Standard Setting Process (V3.1). Therefore, the approved amended text is required to go through two rounds of 60-day public consultation, the first of which ended on 16 February 2026.
Speaking about the feedback from the initial consultation, UKWAS working group chair, Peter Wilson, said:
“Developing an initial revision draft was a challenging task as we needed to consider how best to safeguard conservation values whilst protecting an important revenue stream for many woodland owners and managers. I am pleased that for the most part, respondents were positive about the changes made. The revision working group has made some further modest amendments and is now seeking stakeholders’ views on their second draft.”
John Kirkby, National Secretary of PEFC UK, reiterated the importance of stakeholder participation in the consultation:
“It is essential that any amendments to the requirements of Clause 4.10.1 of UKWAS 5.0 are practical to implement for certificate holders and that their conformance is auditable by certification bodies. Therefore, stakeholder consultation about the potential implications of any amendments is a critical part of this revision process, and I would encourage all relevant stakeholders to take this final opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to the standard.”
The second consultation closes on 20th June 2026, following which any further comments received will be considered before a final draft is prepared and submitted to the UKWAS steering group for review and approval.
A consultation paper and full documentation is available on the UKWAS website and standard-users and stakeholders should email UKWAS to submit their input.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clause 4.10.1c) which is a new requirement in UKWAS 5.0 had troubled a number of woodland managers especially those in lowland areas and on traditional estates where game shooting provides an important revenue stream. Many felt the requirement was impractical for them to implement and would result in them needing to withdraw from certification, which was not the intention of the clause.
A consultation paper and full documentation, including the revised text is available on the UKWAS website and standard-users and stakeholders should submit their input via email to UKWAS by Saturday 20th June 2026.
Once the consultation closes, all comments received will be reviewed by the UKWAS Working Group and further changes to the text of the revised clause 4.10.1 will be made as deemed necessary. This final amended version of the text will then be submitted to the UKWAS Steering Group for approval. Once approved, the revised standard will be submitted to PEFC International for endorsement.