Game release pens: New for UKWAS 5

17 December 2024

While Confor welcomes the release of UKWAS 5.0, we have identified an issue that could affect the supply of certified timber.

Section 4.10.1 (formerly Section 4.9 in UKWAS 4) has three sub sections all relating to game pens. The first requires that industry codes of practice are followed in relation to game pens – this is an existing requirement from UKWAS 4 which we fully support.

New sub sections 4.10.1b and c are the issue:

  • 4.10.1b requires that no new game pens are built in areas of High Conservation Value (HCV);
  • and 4.10.1c requires existing pens in HCVs to be removed within two years, so by 1 December 2026.

HCVs include Ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW), Plantation on ancient woodland (PAWS), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM), Special Protection Areas (SPA), Ramsar Sites, National Nature Reserves and other priority habitats as listed by relevant national authorities. Given the number of woodlands that are ASNW or PAWs and also act as game release pens, this has the potential to cause disruption in the supply of certified material.

The UKWAS steering group agreed at their meeting in November to explore making an amendment to these sections. Confor and others are collecting evidence now, to present their case in writing prior to a vote at the next meeting in May 2025. It is then for the steering group to agree, by consensus, whether to proceed with a formal amendment process.

If there is agreement for a formal amendment, the process is the same as for any other revision. The UKWAS revision working group will agree a new set of requirements, which will then go to public consultation and then to both PEFC and FSC for their approval. This should give sufficient time for existing certificate holders as existing pens do not need to be removed until 1 December 2026.

In the spirit of UKWAS you can not remove small areas of your woodland that you don’t want certified so landowners are given a stark choice – remove game release pens from HCV areas or drop out of certification. Given the often much higher income that game shooting brings to estates compared to timber values it is highly likely that many will choose game shooting.