PEFC UK, with the assistance of a small working group, are in the process of developing a standard for the certification of ‘Trees outside Forests’ and specifically trees within an Urban environment.
This will be an appendix to our already endorsed national sustainable forest management scheme, which is the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS). The UKWAS has been adapted, with the grateful consent of the UKWAS Steering Group, to meet the requirements of the appendix in the PEFC International SFM standard (PEFC ST 1003: 2018) which covers ‘Trees outside Forests’. The second consultation draft for your consideration may be accessed from
PEFC Trees Outside Forests Certification Standard – Draft
The changes made from the first consultation are marked in red. We hope that once established, the standard will become an independently certified benchmark for councils and local authorities around the UK to certify their urban tree management, as sustainable.
The consultation will last until 21st June. After this period, the draft will be revised according to the feedback and comments received and submitted to the PEFC International for an Independent review and endorsement.
We will be pleased to receive your comments in the excel form, accessed on the same web page as above, until the 21st June 2022 Please send the completed Excel reply sheet to Alun Watkins at awatkins@pefc.co.uk
Many thanks for your collaboration.
Alun Watkins, Executive Director PEFC UK Ltd
Image – Gary Butterfield