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WWC V2.0 08March2018.Pdf Woodland Carbon Code Requirements for voluntary carbon sequestration projects ® Version 2.0 March 2018 © Crown Copyright 2018 You may re-use this information (not Contents including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/ open-government-licence or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Introduction 1 Archives, Kew, London, TW9 4DU or e-mail: [email protected] 1. Eligibility 4 Version 2.0 published March 2018 1.1 Key project dates 4 1.2 Eligible activities 5 ISBN 978-0-85538-843-0 1.3 Eligible land 5 FCMS017/FC-GB(KA)/0K/MAR2018 1.4 Compliance with the law 6 Enquiries relating to this publication should 1.5 Conformance to the UK Forestry Standard 6 be sent to: 1.6 Additionality 7 [email protected] 2. Project governance 8 2.1 Commitment of landowners and project/group managers 8 2.2 Management plan 9 2.3 Management of risks and permanence 10 2.4 Consultation 11 2.5 Monitoring 11 2.6 Registry and avoidance of double counting 12 2.7 Carbon statements and reporting 13 3. Carbon sequestration 14 3.1 Carbon baseline 14 3.2 Carbon leakage 15 3.3 Project carbon sequestration 15 3.4 Net carbon sequestration 16 4. Environmental quality 17 5. Social responsibility 18 Glossary 19 O2 CO2 C C Introduction Background and purpose Application Process Trees and forests can mitigate climate change through Registration sequestering carbon. Woodland creation therefore All projects should be registered on the UK Woodland provides an attractive option for companies, organisations Carbon Registry within two years of the start of planting. In and individuals wishing to reduce their carbon footprint order to register a project, a project developer/landowner while also delivering a range of other environmental and should first set up an account on the registry, and then add social benefits. their project(s) to their account. In order to do this, applicants also need to decide whether to use the ‘Standard’ or ‘Small The Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) sets out robust Project Process’, and whether to register their project alone, requirements for voluntary carbon sequestration or as part of a group scheme. Registration is free. projects that incorporate core principles of good carbon management as part of sustainable forest management. ’Standard’ and ‘Small’ sized projects Landowners and their successors in title must commit to A standard ‘project’ can be any size and can constitute a permanent change of landuse to woodland. Specific several individual blocks of woodland with planting objectives of the Code are to ensure: spanning up to five consecutive planting seasons; blocks of woodland must be part of a contiguous land • high standards of sustainable forest management in line ownership unit or must be under the same ownership and with the UK Forestry Standard including the elements of management plan. sustainable forest management; • best practice in woodland carbon accounting; For ‘small’ projects (same definition as a standard project, • scientifically sound forest carbon measurement but with five hectares net planting area or less), there are protocols that enable consistent and rigorous optional streamlined requirements/processes which can measurement of carbon uptake in woodlands; be used for validation and verification, specifically: • integrity through independent quality assurance (validation and regular verification); • A simplified carbon calculator for small projects. • open and transparent project registration, issuance, • Default assumptions made for some sections of the tracking and retirement of carbon units. requirements (e.g. baseline and leakage). • A less intensive ‘Small Project Monitoring Protocol’ Woodland creation can also provide many co-benefits in from Year 15. addition to carbon sequestration. Woodlands can improve air quality and provide wildlife habitat, timber and woodfuel The WCC standard and guidance make clear where as well as sites for public recreation. In the right places they requirements differ for projects using the ‘Small Project can reduce flooding and improve water quality. They can Process’. also provide opportunities for community engagement, staff volunteering, education and development as well as Grouping projects for validation or verification rural business development and diversification. Projects can be registered alone, or as part of a group scheme. Grouped projects benefit from sharing costs of Scope validation and verification. A group of projects can span no more than five consecutive planting seasons and be The Code sets out design and management requirements constituted of: for voluntary UK based projects that sequester carbon through woodland creation. In scope it accounts for • up to 15 ‘standard’ projects; and carbon sequestration and emissions within the woodland. • up to 50 hectares (net) area in ‘small’ projects; It does not account for carbon stored in forest products or the carbon saved when substituting wood products for Ideally, groups will be formed prior to validation, but other products with a larger carbon footprint. it is also possible to form a group for the purposes of www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode 1 Version 2.0 verification. If a group is formed for verification, the Costs and income through involvement in project start dates within the group should be within two the Woodland Carbon Code years of each other (this also means their verifications will be due within two years of each other). A group requires a There are some costs of involvement in the Woodland Group Manager and a Group Agreement (See Section 2.1). Carbon Code. Further details are available in the online Once projects are grouped, the grouping should remain guidance. the same for each subsequent verification. • Registration is free. Validation • Validation incurs a cost (payable to the validation/ All WCC projects or group schemes must be initially verification body). validated by an independent validation/verification • Issuance of Pending Issuance Units incurs a per unit cost body accredited by the UK Accreditation Service to assess (payable to the registry provider at the time of validation). against the WCC. In order to become validated, projects • Verification incurs a cost (payable to the validation/ or groups of projects must submit a Project Design verification body). Document with supporting evidence to a validation/ • Conversion of units from Pending Issuance Units to verification body. Validation should be complete within Woodland Carbon units incurs a per unit cost (payable three years of registration, and can only be completed once to the registry provider at the time of verification). the trees are planted, or fencing/deer control is in place if naturally regenerating. Carbon income from the sale of carbon units are expected to cover the costs of involvement in the scheme. Once validated, Pending Issuance Units will be issued on the UK Woodland Carbon Registry. There is a cost for The WCC is a voluntary standard and verification does validation and for unit issuance. not imply endorsement by the Forestry Commission of the value of any investment. Regular Verification Projects or group schemes must be regularly verified at Use of Woodland Carbon Units least at Year 5 and then every ten years by an independent validation/verification body. To become verified: Woodland carbon projects contribute to just one of a hierarchy of actions that can help to combat the effects of • Single projects or groups must undertake monitoring climate change. Before considering such measures onsite and submit a Project Progress Report and individuals, businesses and other organisations need to: Monitoring Report with supporting evidence to a validation/verification body. • understand their carbon footprint; • The process is simpler for ‘small’ projects from • take steps to prevent avoidable emissions; Year 15 onwards. • reduce any remaining emissions. The validation/verification body will check that statements Once verified, carbon units created by Woodland Carbon about predicted or actual carbon sequestration are Code projects are known as Woodland Carbon Units. materially correct, with a reasonable level of assurance, Until that point they are referred to as Pending Issuance except at Year 5 when a limited level of assurance will Units. One unit is one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent be offered. (tCO2) sequestered. Once verified, any Pending Issuance Units realised will be All organisations are encouraged to voluntarily measure converted to Woodland Carbon Units. There is a cost for and report their gross and net greenhouse gas emissions. verification and for conversion of units. Verified Woodland Carbon Units are one type of ‘credit’ that can be used to reduce a company’s gross emissions If at any point there is no UK Accreditation Service under UK government guidance: Environmental Reporting accredited validation/verification body for the WCC, the Guidelines: Including mandatory greenhouse gas WCC scheme owner (currently the Forestry Commission) emissions reporting guidance. PAS2060:2014 Specification will put temporary validation/verification arrangements for the Demonstration of Carbon Neutrality also clarifies in place. how verified Woodland Carbon Units can be used in claims of carbon neutrality of an organisation’s activities, products, services, buildings, projects or events. www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode 2 Version 2.0 Carbon sequestration resulting from
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