News

We are now piloting certification of groups of Woodland Carbon Code projects from June 2012-January 2013.

Efforts to boost British forests’ contribution to tackling climate change reached a key milestone this week. The amount of carbon dioxide predicted to be removed from the atmosphere by woodland planting projects registered under the new Woodland Carbon Code has passed 1 million tonnes. News Release

The new Version 1.4 contains updated predictions for ALL Sycamore-Ash-Birch (SAB) Thinned scenarios.  It also includes a new example calculation which projects can adapt and use for their project carbon sequestration predictions. See Project Carbon Sequestration.

UK Carbon reporting Framework launched which will act as a matchmaker between carbon reduction projects in the UK and organisations wishing to support such projects.  The framework was developed in a partnership between BRE, British Airways, Deloitte and Forum for the Future.  Projects will have to use standardised carbon accounting methods, including the Woodland Carbon Code for woodland creation projects.

Two new moves announced today are expected to attract significant new investment into UK tree planting projects designed to help combat climate change - The launch of the Woodland Carbon Code alongside changes to guidelines for organisations on reporting their greenhouse gas emissions. News Release

New guidance section shows how to meet the requirements of the Woodland Carbon Code.  Update to Carbon Lookup Tables and Guidance (v1.3).  Now includes emissions from woodland managment.  Soil Carbon is also dealt with in Project Carbon Sequestration.

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