PEFC has appointed a new industry representative to its UK Board. Forestry specialist Simon Hart, brings over 30 years’ experience to the post and will be a valuable addition, helping to underpin the organisation’s commitment to sustainable forestry.

Simon is currently General Manager of Egger Forest Management, an arm of Egger Forestry which offers a full range of forestry services to woodland owners in the north of England and Scotland. Simon’s expertise extends to forest acquisitions, economic appraisals, management and valuations. He also runs Egger’s forest certification scheme and sits on the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) Steering Group. Prior to joining Egger, Simon worked for UPM Tilhill, mainly in forestry investment, but since 2000 he also audited woodlands to the UKWAS standard. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Foresters and RICS and is a Registered Valuer. Simon has particular interest in the land-use debate and is a strong advocate for more tree planting in the uplands.

“I am delighted to have an opportunity to contribute my skills and experience to PEFC,” said Simon. “They have a crucial role to play in promoting sustainable forest management across the world and in providing assurances of responsible sourcing to those trading in forest products. It is vitally important for those specifying forest-based products to act positively and secure a certified supply.”

Welcoming Simon’s appointment, PEFC UK Chairman Ross Bradshaw added: “PEFC has long recognised the importance of having key stakeholder groups represented on its Governing Board. We are fortunate enough to be able to call upon the expertise of senior figures from a wide range of industry sectors and Simon’s appointment will ensure that the voice of the forest sector is heard.”

The Egger Group is a leading wood-based panel manufacturer and the Group consists of 17 European plants, 23 worldwide sales offices, over 7,380 employees and a turnover in excess of 2.26 billion euros. In the UK, Egger has two chipboard manufacturing plants (Hexham, Northumberland and Barony, Ayrshire) producing approximately 1 million m3 of chipboard each year and employing over 700 people. Egger’s manufacturing plants produce raw chipboard, some of which is further upgraded at Hexham into products for the furniture market and into tongue and groove flooring for the building market. Egger is now the largest manufacturing company in Northumberland and has invested approximately £200m at the Hexham site since 2006, to make it one of the most technologically advanced chipboard plants in Europe.