THE Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) has launched an accredited e-learning programme to help tree professionals get to grips with the latest edition of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS), which comes into effect in October.
This is the first time the UKFS has been made available via an e-learning platform.
This visually appealing and highly interactive programme has been accredited by Lantra and leads to certification upon completion.
It has the backing of Forest Research, the Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Forestry and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
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Louise Simpson, executive director at the ICF, and UKFS e-learning project lead, said: “We’d like to see everyone working in professional forestry aspiring to the principles and best practice guidelines set out in the UKFS. We recognised that we needed to make it more accessible, which is why we’re excited to be launching an accredited e-learning platform to help bring the standard to life.
“We believe we have created something that’s new and innovative for our sector, incorporating fantastic graphics, interactive elements and virtual reality."
The programme breaks down the fifth edition of the UKFS into bite-size chunks of information using words, graphics, animation and video to enable forestry professionals to learn the key elements of the standard without having to read through the 128-page manual. There is also the option for virtual engagement for those looking for a more immersive experience.
Platform users enter a virtual forest classroom before breaking out into eight e-learning modules that cover critical aspects of sustainable forestry and woodland management to comply with the newest edition of the UKFS. From biodiversity to climate change, and landscape to soil, users can study each element of the UKFS at their own pace and dip in and out to access important guidance remotely on their mobile devices, as required.
Louise added: “We hope that everyone working in professional forestry and woodland management will want to engage with the new UKFS 5th edition via our e-learning programme to familiarise themselves with the changes and consider how best to implement them.
“It’s all about working together to create the best possible environments for trees to flourish so that we can achieve our various aims against multiple objectives.”
The course has been built by specialist e-learning programme developer adaptiVLE, using the ICF’s new online education platform Silvestor (which was also developed by adaptiVLE). The script was produced by a technical authoring team, led by Chartered Forester Martin Glynn FICFor CEnv.
Funded by Defra's Trees Call to Action Fund, the fifth edition of the UKFS provides the basis for forestry regulation and monitoring in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It has been updated following devolution to reflect changes in legislation, new international agreements and advances in scientific understanding.
By successfully completing the UKFS e-learning programme, foresters will be accredited and compliant, and able to demonstrate that their activities and proposals are legal, sustainable and follow the principles of best practice.
Sign-up to the UKFS e-learning programme here.
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