PEFC Chairman Peter Latham appointed as Commissioner of the Forestry Commission England

3 April 2019 News

“On behalf of the whole international PEFC community, we are honoured and proud that our Chairman, Peter, has been appointed as a Non-Executive Commissioner to the Forestry Commission in England,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International.

“His wide ranging expertise in all aspects of the international timber trade, combined with his skills in leading and achieving multi-stakeholder consensus at global level, will be of significant benefit to Forestry Commission in its mission of protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woodlands.”

Appointed by the British Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Peter will serve the Forestry Commission England (FC) as a Non-Executive Commissioner for three years.

The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department that protects and increases the value of woodlands and conducts forest research across the United Kingdom, with a focus on England. By promoting the interests of forestry and developing afforestation, the FC Commissioners are key to ensuring a strong, sustainable future for forestry in the UK.

“It is an exciting time to be joining the Forestry Commission England, with challenging targets to grow sustainably managed woodland cover and with the opportunities provided by a changing land management grant regime,” said Peter.

Peter Latham OBE was Director and Chairman of PEFC UK before he joined the PEFC International Board in 2011, becoming the Chairman in 2016. For 44 years, Peter worked for James Latham PLC, a family business which he joined in the 7th generation in 1973. He served the company as Chairman from 2006 to 2017.

Peter has been Chairman of the Timber Trade Federation Environmental Committee, Director of Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT) and a trustee of the Council of the Commonwealth Forestry Association. Peter was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to the wood industry in the UK in 2012 and the TTJ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.