LAND JOURNAL

Woodlands valuation standard update

Surveyors who carry out valuations of all types of woodlands and forests need to be aware of the implications of the latest edition of RICS' Valuation of woodlands and forests

Author:

  • Fiona Mannix

27 January 2025

Nature reserve with woodlands and river

RICS has updated its Valuation of woodlands and forests professional standard for members working in the UK and Ireland.

Webinar recording on the forestry and woodland markets available

Our January 2025 forestry and woodlands webinar is now available to members and non-members for one year. It's a great way to get a better understanding of forestry and woodlands in the UK and Ireland and it counts as one hour towards members' formal CPD.

This session reviews RICS' Valuation of woodlands and forests, 2nd edition, as well as providing valuable insights into the land and timber markets, including supply and demand and the challenges and opportunities. You will also hear from speakers working in the sector who are advising clients on this asset class.

The second edition, which was effective on 1 June 2023, sets out the main factors to be considered by the valuer carrying out such valuations, as well as outlining the process and approaches involved. All members carrying out valuations of these assets must comply with the professional standard.

New edition responds to transforming market

The market has changed significantly since the publication of the first edition in 2010, with investment in forestry and thus the size of the market expanding considerably in that time.

In addition, with net-zero carbon and climate change mitigation a priority for all, forestry is increasingly attractive to private investors not just for the production of timber and its returns but also due to its carbon sequestration potential which can be used to offset emissions. In addition, as reported in Land Journal, the government also has ambitious tree-planting targets for 2025 which will expand the sector.

The myriad other potential benefits of woodlands and forests – such as their flood alleviation potential and delivery of other ecosystem services – are just some of the new considerations that clients are looking to their advisers to understand.

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Fiona Mannix is senior specialist, land and resources, at RICS

Contact Fiona: Email

Related competencies include: Environmental management, Land use and diversification, Sustainability