News and events

An important milestone in efforts to promote woodland planting to combat climate change has been reached with the first award of Woodland Carbon Code group scheme validation. 

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) has accredited SGS and SFQC as validation/verification bodies for Woodland Carbon Code projects. 

Version 1.1 of Code released with changes to sections on additionality and monitoring.  Version 2.1 of Project Design Document (reflects changes to Code) and Version 1.5 of Carbon Lookup Tables (now includes 2.0m Scots Pine), Version 1.4 of Lookup Table Guidance (minor changes to Emissions from Establishment)

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. 

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. 

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.