Woodland Carbon Code News

New information added - wider spacings (2.5m and 3m) added to the lookup tables for broadleaf species, further guidance on mixtures, a table to deal with woodlands managed on a clearfell regime and further clarity to the section on calculating the permanence risk buffer.

15 pilot sites have been selected.  These incude a selection of woodland types spread across the UK.  These projects will soon appear on the UK Register of Woodland Carbon Projects, and are now going through the process of designing their project, estimating the carbon it will sequester and having it scrutinised by an independent certification body - either SGS or Scottish Food Quality Certification.

The Forestry Commission is about to test a new quality assurance scheme for tree planting projects designed to sequester carbon.  The market for such projects is increasing but, until now, there have been no standards to measure their claims against, or to ensure that real benefits will accrue.  The new Woodland Carbon Code will encourage a consistent approach to  projects and provide clarity and transparency to potential customers and investors about what their contributions should achieve. News Release