Join us
Full membership of UKWAS is open to organisations representing any part of the full spectrum of interests of the UK’s forestry, environmental and social communities including those who work in woodlands or use them for recreation.
To find out more about becoming a member of UKWAS please contact the UKWAS Support Unit.
An important group of stakeholders does not meet the criteria for full membership. Therefore, an Associate Member category was established in 2007 to extend the inclusive nature of the UKWAS partnership; it is open to stakeholders such as commercial enterprises (e.g. forest management companies, wood-processing companies, certification bodies, retailers and traders), societies and woodland initiatives.
Help us develop standards
UKWAS review working group
The UKWAS standard is reviewed and, if necessary, revised every five years by means of a three-year revision process.
The beginning of a review process was announced on 1st July 2020.
Member organisations’ steering group representatives manage the review and revision process and have prepared a detailed plan and timetable. Following a call for volunteers, an independent working group of standard-users and stakeholders has been appointed to take forward the review. The working group is chamber-balanced to ensure that economic, environmental and social considerations are taken fully into account and it will be supported by a pool of technical experts.
The initial review phase concluded that a full revision was necessary. UKWAS 5.0 came into effect from 1st December 2024 for PEFC certificate holders. The FSC approval process is not yet confirmed.
Further details on process and consultation opportunities are available on our Revision pages.
UKWAS review stakeholder Forum
In addition, all standard-users and stakeholders are invited to participate in the revision by joining a Stakeholder Forum. Forum members will be kept up to date on progress and receive news on public consultation opportunities. There are three formal opportunities for stakeholders to make their input but the working group might also invite input on specific issues as they arise.
To join the Stakeholder Forum, please contact ukwas@ukwas.org.uk. Please include a few lines on your relevant interests so that we can better understand the composition of the Stakeholder Forum.
Other task groups
From time to time the steering group sets up a task group to consider a particular topic in detail and those with relevant expertise are welcome to participate.
