UKWAS certification
The RSPB has certified 11,578 hectares of woodland and forest on 50 nature reserves under the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS).
UKWAS and RSPB nature reserves
The RSPB has reaffirmed its commitment to high standards of woodland and forest stewardship by renewing our UKWAS certificate. This was approved by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) following a reassessment audit by Soil Association (Forestry).
The RSPB UKWAS certificate comprises 11,578 hectares on 50 reserves across England, Wales and Scotland and includes lowland broadleaved woodland, upland birch and ash woods, Western Atlantic oakwood, wet woodland, native pinewoods, wood pasture, conifer plantation and newly planted woodland. These woodlands hold notable populations of some of the UK's birds of conservation concern along with other rare and threatened species associated with these varied habitats.
UKWAS is a voluntary forestry management standard that is approved by Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and sets out a range of environmental, social and economic requirements for certificate holders to demonstrate credible and responsible woodland and forest management when combined with independent auditing. The RSPB is committed to meeting the FSC Principles and UKWAS requirements which provide a foundation for RSPB's woodland management.
RSPB UKWAS certification runs for 5 years from July 2021 to July 2026 subject to meeting independent annual audits conducted by Soil Association Forestry.