Benefits to landowners

Income: 

New woodlands which meet the standards set out in the UK Woodland Carbon Code could provide an alternative to agricultural income, with sales of carbon units either giving:   

• Additional income upfront to help with the establishment of the woodland through the sale of Pending Issuance Units. A native woodland could generate around 400 units per hectare. See recent average UK carbon prices.
• Future income from the sale of Woodland Carbon Units once the woodland has actually sequestered and stored the carbon from the atmosphere. The value of Woodland Carbon Units is likely to be higher than that for Pending Issuance Units, but there haven't yet been enough sales of Woodland Carbon Units to provide any price data.

Depending on how the woodland is managed and provided the project is additional, there's also the potential of future income from timber products from saw logs to wood fuel. Recent research assesses the investment returns from timber and carbon in woodland creation projects (2017).

Tax implications:

• Income/Corporation Tax: Income from commercial forestry is not subject to Income or Corporation Tax. 
• Inheritance Tax: Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code in the HMRC's Inheritance Tax Manual.
• VAT: HM Revenue and Customs has published updated guidance about the VAT treatment of voluntary carbon credits. From 1 September 2024, VAT needs to be accounted for on certain trades of voluntary carbon credits. Some activities are still outside the scope of VAT. 

The UK government recently ran a consultation on the taxation of environmental land management and ecosystem service markets. You can read the outcome on the gov.uk website.

You should always seek professional independent advice on your specific circumstances before making any long-term investment decisions.

Credibility and reassurance: 

Having your project independently validated and verified to the Woodland Carbon Code adds credibility to your project and provides companies wishing to buy carbon units with reassurance about the amount of carbon sequestered in your project. The Woodland Carbon Code is endorsed by the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance, providing greater market trust in the product you are selling. It is also listed as a quality, credible standard in the following: 

• UK Government's Environmental Reporting Guidelines
• PAS2060 - British Standards Institute's standard for carbon neutral claims
• Natural Capital Partners' CarbonNeutral Protocol
• The Green Building Council's Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market will be setting out 'Core Carbon Principles' later this year. We will ensure that the UK Woodland Carbon Code meets these principles.

Social and environmental benefits: 

Woodland creation projects are sustainable projects which not only sequester carbon but also provide a range of social and environmental benefits such as:

• Benefits to wildlife and biodiversity
• Opportunities for varied recreation
• Enhance the local landscape or restore degraded landscapes 
• Provide shelter for animals or humans depending on location
• Provide a source of wood fuel as an alternative to fossil fuels 
• Provide timber which can then also continue to store carbon in long-lasting timber products
• Protect water and soils
• Regulate temperature in urban areas

Find out more

• Webinar on the woodland carbon market (Farm Advisory Service)
• Information session on the Woodland Carbon Code and the Woodland Carbon Guarantee (Forestry Commission)
• Webinar on the Woodland Carbon Code and Woodland Carbon Guarantee (Forestry Commission)