Details of the process for the next revision of the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) have been announced. The standard is revised every five years by means of three-year process, due to be completed in 2011.
There will be three phases to the revision and consultation process:
Phase one, this year, is an evidence-gathering phase including initial stakeholder consultation which runs from May 1 to June 30.
Phase 2, in 2010, is the main revision drafting phase leading to a revision draft for consultation; and phase 3, in 2011, is the conclusion phase including further revision and preparation of a pre-approval draft for final consultation. After further amendment, FSC UK and PEFC UK will submit the standard to their respective international parent bodies for approval.
“An important innovation this time is that we are asking stakeholders to feed in their ideas for the review from the outset,” said UKWAS executive chairman, Peter Wilson. “What we are looking for is stakeholders’ input on what is good or bad about the current UKWAS standard and how it might be improved.”
For the full revision process and timetable, visit www.ukwas.org.uk
