Minutes: Forest Services board meeting 20 September 2023
Published 17 April 2026
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Forest Services board 23rd Meeting, Wednesday 20 September 2023 between 9am to 11.30am in person at the Bell Hotel, Thetford and via MS Teams.
Minutes
The Chair opened the meeting with updates on ministerial engagement, progress in woodland acquisition, new Forestry England facilities, staff briefings and significant research developments. Forest Research updated on accreditation progress, climate change factsheets and volunteer training.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved, with no declarations of interest. The Director’s update covered key policy sign-offs, changes linked to the ministerial direction, Grant Management System and Felling Licence Online v2 system transitions, concerns surrounding Environmental Land Management payment rates, regulatory reform, sector impacts and tree health guidance. Several operational queries required follow-up outside the meeting.
The board held in-depth discussions on green finance and the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS). The green finance session highlighted the structure of ecosystem markets, private investment potential, standards for nature integrity and the need to scale activity. The UKFS update focused on the shift from a guideline to a requirement limiting single-species woodland composition to strengthen resilience. Certification implications and landowner impacts were discussed in detail.
The board also explored strengthening engagement with Forestry Woodland Advisory Committees, including increasing recognition, expanding their remit to allow promotion of forestry, improving coordination of messaging and ensuring Commissioners receive minutes from sub-boards.
The finance update addressed budget forecasts, overspend risks, pay award relief, training of cost centre managers and improvements needed in forecasting accuracy. In any other business, brief updates were provided from the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and internal role changes. The Chair closed the meeting with thanks.
The next scheduled board meeting would be Tuesday 14 November, via MS Teams.