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The Association of Tree Officers (ATO)
Representing the views and concerns of tree officers nationwide -
The Association of Tree Officers (ATO)
Representing the views and concerns of tree officers nationwide
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Welcome to The Association of Tree Officers Website
The Association of Tree Officers (ATO) will promote, support and represent Tree Officers. Administrative control of ATO will be undertaken by the ATO Directors, supported by the National Co-ordinator, Becky Porter.
Latest News
PEFC UK, with the assistance of a small working group are in the process of developing a standard for certification of ‘Trees outside Forests and specifically trees within an Urban environment'. This will be an appendix to the already endorsed national sustainable forest management scheme, which is the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS). The UKWAS has been adapted, with the grateful consent of the UKWAS Steering Group, to meet the requirements of the appendix in the PEFC International SFM standard (PEFC ST 1003: 2018) which covers ‘Trees outside Forests’. The consultation draft is out for consideration. It is hoped that once established, the standard will become an independently certified benchmark for councils and local authorities around the UK.
The consultation will last 60 days from 5th Jan 2021. After this period, the draft will be revised according to the feedback and comments received and submitted to the PEFC International for an Independent review and approval. https://www.pefc.co.uk/news_articles/pefc-trees-outside-forests-consultation
We will be pleased to receive your comments in the attached excel form until the 6th March 2021. Please send to Alun Watkins at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Government has promised a massive acceleration in the rate of tree planting to help offset greenhouse gas emissions. But questions have been raised about whether the targets are the right ones, whether the right types of trees will be planted in the right places, and whether enough is being done to protect existing woodlands.
The UK Parliament Committee inquiry will examine these questions and what lessons can be learnt from the failure to meet previous tree planting ambitions in England. It will also consider how to balance the drive to plant more trees with the many other benefits for health, nature, and the economy derived from woods and forests.
The committee wants to hear your views. We welcome submissions from anyone with answers to the questions in the call for evidence. You can submit evidence until 6 December 2020. Please go to link: https://committees.parliament.
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