Impact Investment Fund
The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) UK Impact Investment Fund, launched in October 2024, was open to fund UK based projects that support our charitable objectives.
Please note: applications have now closed for the 2024/2025 round of funding. Any future rounds of funding will be announced on this page, and in our monthly newsletter, Forest Matters (you can sign up for this here). We are not currently in a position to advise on the timing of the next round of funding.
"FSC UK is delighted to announce that we have awarded grants to CATT, ZSL and Llais y Goedwig from our Impact and Investment Fund. The three successful applicants submitted proposals that were fully aligned with three of FSC UK's priorities: on promoting the use of sustainable timber in construction, on advancing the opportunities for sustainably managed woodland to access Payment for Ecosystem Services, and on bringing smallholder and community woodlands into certification, respectively. The projects allow us to access to some of the incredible expertise, skills and perspectives that exist in the broad ecosystem of forest thought and practice to further our Charitable Objectives, whilst at the same time providing resources for the three organisations to expand their important work."
Steve Jennings, FSC UK Board Member, Environmental Chamber
Funded Projects 2025
Funding was awarded to three projects in 2025. FSC UK received applications for nearly £3 million of funding from a broad range of organisations. Whilst we were delighted with the high level of interest in the Fund, it does, inevitably, mean that we were not be able to support all the projects. We are conscious that the applicants put considerable work into their proposals. The assessment panel discussed the possibility, for future rounds, of introducing a two stage process, with an initial concept note and then a full proposal after these have been filtered. We have also taken on board the feedback that the application window was too short this time.
Project: |
Transforming Timber through Responsible Sourcing: Empowering built environment professionals to embrace home-grown timber in construction |
Description/Purpose of the grant: |
Development of an accredited course aimed at equipping construction professionals with the comprehensive knowledge and emerging best practices essential for effective timber specification. This course development project will focus on designing a robust, pilot-ready course for construction professionals, with a curriculum focussing on sustainably sourced timber and its applications in the construction industry. |
It is awarded to: |
Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) |
The grant is for a total of: |
£30,000 |
The grant covers the following time period: |
01/04/2025 – 31/01/2026 |
Project: |
Promoting Sustainable Forestry and FSC Certification |
Description/Purpose of the grant: |
ZSL will plan, organise, and host a symposium in the Prince Albert Suite at ZSL London Zoo, with a capacity of up to 250 people. ZSL will design and deliver an engaging and informative agenda of talks. They will also post on social media around deforestation and sustainable forestry management in the lead up to COP30. |
It is awarded to: |
Zoological Society of London |
The grant is for a total of: |
£24,996 |
The grant covers the following time period: |
01/04/2025-31/12/2025 |
Project: |
Creating a network of certification-ready woodlands |
Description/Purpose of the grant: |
The project aims to develop the capacity of community and small woodland owners and managers across the UK to manage their woodlands to maintain and/or enhance biodiversity and recreation services. These ecosystem services support wildlife and increase the potential for cultural, recreational and health benefits for surrounding communities. A network of woodlands that are 'certification ready’ with FSC Verified Impact will be formed, and woodland owners will be supported to establish new income streams, including the promotion of timber from well-managed small and community woodland. |
It is awarded to: |
Llais y Goedwig |
The grant is for a total of: |
£40,000 |
The grant covers the following time period: |
01/04/2025 to 31/03/2027 |
We hope The Fund will support and tap into the knowledge, experience and innovation within the sustainable forestry and timber community to the benefit of the wider forestry sector,
Mike Bekin, FSC UK Board Member, Economic Chamber
About the fund
The Fund was open to fund UK based projects that support our charitable objectives. Applications for £5,000-£50,000 were invited from suitable UK organisations in the sustainable forestry / timber sectors.
We encouraged applications which combined the strategic priorities listed below, such as a project linked to the provision of timber for the construction sector where the associated management within the forest is driving improved timber quality and/or biodiversity and/or social/cultural improvements.
Please note: applications have now closed for the 2024/2025 round of funding. Any future rounds of funding will be announced on this page and in our newsletter. We are not currently in a position to advise on the timing of the next round of funding.
There is an urgent need for research that helps strengthen the link between supply and demand for sustainable forestry and ecosystem services,
Constance L McDermott, FSC UK Board Member, Social Chamber
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Strategic Priorities
Three general priorities were prioritised for the 2024/2025 round of funding:
Sourcing
Promoting/establishing woodland management for ecosystem services
For the first round of funding, we were looking for applications focusing on improved forest management for a range of ecosystem services and/or developing markets for these services.
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Demand
Fostering an increase in the use of responsibly sourced timber
For the first round of funding, we were looking for applications focusing on promoting the use of sustainably managed timber in the construction sector.
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Benefits of well-managed forests
Making the link between demand and source more explicit
For the first round of funding, we were looking for applications focusing on either the benefits of well managed forests or the impacts that well managed forests have.
The impact investment fund is an important tool to expand the footprint of FSC UK, to find joint solutions to the problems of achieving a circular bioeconomy and to engage with like-minded actors in sustainable forestry,
Hubertus Van Hensbergen, FSC UK Board Member, Economic Chamber
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