The UK’s forests and woodlands provide timber, habitats and places for recreation. They are also managed within a complex framework of legislation, government policy, industry standards and voluntary certification.
This overview examines the extent and different types of woodland found across the UK, the challenges facing the forestry sector and the role of independent forest certification.
An Overview of UK Forests
As of 31 March 2024, woodland covered approximately 3.28 million hectares of the United Kingdom, representing around 13.5% of its total land area.
Woodland cover varies across the four nations:
- Scotland: 19%
- Wales: 15%
- England: 10%
- Northern Ireland: 9%
Around 0.86 million hectares, or 26% of UK woodland, is owned or managed by Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service in Northern Ireland. The remainder is owned by individuals, estates, charities, businesses and other organisations.
Conifers account for approximately 48% of UK woodland, although the proportion varies considerably between countries. Conifers make up around 71% of woodland in Scotland and 22% in England.
Source: Forest Research, Forestry Statistics 2024.
Types of Woodland in the UK
UK woodland can be broadly divided into plantation, semi-natural and mixed woodland. These categories can support different combinations of timber production, habitat, landscape, recreation and other objectives, depending on their location, condition and management.
Plantation Forests
Plantation forests are often established to produce timber and may consist predominantly of non-native conifer species. Many UK plantations were created on farmland and other land considered suitable for afforestation. Some were planted on ancient woodland sites and are known as Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites, or PAWS.
Sitka spruce remains an important species for UK timber production because of its growth rate and suitability for many forestry sites. Other commercially important species include Scots pine, Corsican pine, Norway spruce, larch and Douglas fir.
Timber harvested from these forests is used in sectors including construction, paper, packaging, fencing and landscaping.
Semi-Natural Woodlands
Semi-natural woodland is often dominated by broadleaved species such as oak, birch and ash. Many sites provide important habitats for plants and wildlife, and some are designated or recognised as priority habitats.
Management objectives can include habitat conservation, recreation, landscape value and, where appropriate, timber production. The balance between these objectives depends on the characteristics and condition of the individual woodland.
Ancient semi-natural woodlands are particularly valued for their long ecological continuity and cultural significance. Programmes across the UK seek to protect, restore and expand native woodland, although the results depend on factors including management, funding, climate, pests and diseases.
Mixed Woodlands
Mixed woodlands contain a combination of tree species and may include both native and non-native trees. They are found across farms, estates and other rural landscapes.
These woodlands can be managed for a range of purposes, including shelter, timber production, wildlife, recreation and sport. Appropriate planning and ongoing management can help woodland owners balance these different objectives.
Urban Trees and Other Woodland Resources
Trees are also found outside traditional woodland settings, including in parks, streets, gardens, wood pastures and small wooded areas close to towns and cities.
Depending on their location, condition and management, these trees can provide shade, habitat, landscape value and opportunities for people to engage with nature.
PEFC’s Trees Outside Forests framework extends certification to trees growing outside areas traditionally defined as forests. It enables participating organisations to have their management practices independently assessed against applicable PEFC-endorsed requirements.
The requirements cover environmental, social and economic aspects of the management of Trees Outside Forests. Certification confirms that the applicable requirements have been assessed. It should not be interpreted as guaranteeing every possible environmental or social outcome.
Sustainable Forest Management and Certification
Forestry in the UK operates within a legal and policy framework that includes the Forestry Act 1967 and the UK Forestry Standard.
The UK Forestry Standard sets out the UK governments’ approach to sustainable forest management. It covers areas including biodiversity, climate change, historic environment, landscape, people, soil and water.
The UK Woodland Assurance Standard, known as UKWAS, provides a standard against which woodland management in the UK can be independently assessed. It is endorsed for use by both PEFC and FSC™ forest certification systems.
As of 31 March 2024, approximately 1.44 million hectares, or 44% of UK woodland, was independently certified. This figure indicates the proportion of woodland covered by certification rather than guaranteeing particular environmental outcomes across every certified site.
PEFC forest management certification involves independent assessment of a forest management unit against an applicable national or regional standard endorsed by PEFC. PEFC assesses national and regional systems against its Sustainable Forest Management benchmark requirements.
These benchmark requirements cover environmental, social and economic aspects of forest management. Compliance is assessed through independent audits conducted by accredited certification bodies.
Challenges Facing UK Forestry
The UK forestry sector faces a range of challenges, including:
- Climate change and extreme weather
- Pests and diseases
- Biodiversity loss
- Pressure on woodland condition
- Competing land-use priorities
- Demand for domestically produced timber
- The need to increase woodland cover
Initiatives across the UK seek to diversify tree species, restore habitats, create new woodland and improve resilience. The effectiveness of these activities depends on appropriate planning, implementation, monitoring and long-term management.
Looking to the Future
The future of UK forestry will depend on how objectives such as timber production, woodland creation, nature recovery, recreation and climate resilience are balanced.
Forest certification can contribute by providing defined requirements and a system of independent assessment. PEFC supports this through the endorsement of national and regional forest certification systems and through Chain of Custody certification for forest and tree-based materials entering the supply chain.
Certification should be understood as an assessment against specified requirements. It does not, by itself, establish the complete environmental impact of a forest-based product or guarantee a particular environmental or social outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does PEFC stand for?
PEFC stands for the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. It is the world’s largest forest certification system, setting international benchmark requirements for sustainable forest management against which national and regional forest management standards are assessed.
Founded by small and family forest owners, PEFC’s forest management and chain of custody certification helps demonstrate responsible forestry and connects certified forests with businesses and consumers looking for trusted, responsibly sourced timber, paper and packaging solutions.
Today, more than 295 million hectares of forest are PEFC certified, whilst almost 30,000 companies worldwide benefit from PEFC Chain of Custody certification.
What does PEFC certification mean?
PEFC certification means that a forest or business has been independently assessed and verified as meeting PEFC’s sustainability, traceability and social responsibility requirements.
For forests, this involves managing woodland to a national or regional forest management standard that has been independently assessed as meeting PEFC’s Sustainable Forest Management Benchmarks. For businesses who obtain PEFC chain of custody certification, it means having systems in place to track responsibly sourced material through the supply chain.
PEFC certification provides assurance that wood-based products come from responsibly managed forests and controlled sources.
Is PEFC certification credible?
Yes. PEFC is widely recognised as a credible and robust forest certification system.
PEFC’s sustainable forest management benchmarks and chain of custody standards are developed through multi-stakeholder consultation. Certificate holder compliance is verified through independent, third-party audits conducted by accredited certification bodies, not by self-assessment.
PEFC is trusted by governments, businesses and NGOs around the world and the presence of the PEFC trademark on products is recognised across the timber, paper, packaging, construction and retail supply chains as assurance that the timber used in their manufacture is from PEFC certified and other well managed forests.
Why is sustainable forest management important?
Sustainable forest management ensures forests can meet environmental, social and economic needs today while remaining healthy and productive for future generations.
It protects biodiversity, wildlife, water and soils, prevents illegal logging, and avoids genetically modified trees and the use of most hazardous chemicals. It also supports safe, fair working conditions, in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions while enhancing the productive capacity of the forest.
Sustainable forest management also recognises the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, protects culturally and historically significant sites and supports long-term employment and rural development.
What is Chain of Custody certification?
PEFC Chain of Custody certification tracks certified material through the supply chain, from the forest to the finished product.
It ensures that timber, paper and packaging sold with a PEFC claim originate from PEFC-certified forests, recycled sources, or other controlled sources. It also requires certified supply chains to have systems in place to prevent mixing with uncontrolled material.
Chain of Custody certification is a necessity for companies who wish to make PEFC claims about their products and use the PEFC logo on the products to promote their certified status.
How can I tell if a product is PEFC certified?
For PEFC certification of a product to be maintained, all actors in the supply chain who take physical possession and/or legal ownership must hold valid PEFC chain of custody certification. PEFC claims, which confirm the certified status of the product and the supplier’s chain of custody certificate number should be stated on documentation, typically delivery notes and invoices, that accompany the product. The validity of a supplier’s chain of custody certification can be verified using PEFC’s public certificate database.
It is also possible to identify PEFC certified products by looking for the PEFC label on the product or the associated packaging.
