The Forestry Commission has now established the Woodland Carbon Code, a process that has dramatically increased the funding for UK woodland creation projects through the issuance of UK woodland carbon credits, in essence; a scheme that diverts funding from UK businesses, companies and institutions to woodland creation projects that are measurable, transparent, and local.
The Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) is the quality assurance standard for woodland creation projects in the UK, and generates high integrity, independently verified carbon units. Backed by the Government, the forest industry and carbon market experts, the Code provides woodland carbon units right here in the UK. The Woodland Carbon Code is internationally recognised for high standards of sustainable forest management and carbon management and is endorsed by ICROA, the global umbrella body for carbon reduction and offset providers in the voluntary market.
Woodland Carbon Code projects provide social and environmental benefits for many communities across the UK. These include biodiversity and habitat creation, improvements in health and wellbeing, benefits for farming, local employment and educational opportunities.
Supported by robust science from Forest Research, independent validation and verification and a transparent registry where you can track ownership, transfer and use of credits, it allows your company to:
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- Reduce your net emissions: The UK Government’s Environmental Reporting Guidelines shows how you can use verified Woodland Carbon Units to compensate for your company’s gross UK-based emissions.
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- Claim Carbon Neutrality / Negativity: PAS 2060:2014 shows how verified Woodland Carbon Units can be used in claims of carbon neutrality of an activity, product, service, building, project or event in the UK.
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- Buy in advance and help with your pathway to Net Zero by 2050: Purchase units in advance of sequestration helping to plan your pathway to net zero over the years to come. Note: Companies can compensate for their UK-based emissions using carbon units from WCC projects, but not for their emissions overseas or emissions from international aviation or shipping.
The Clean Earth Collective’s experience with liaising with the Forestry Commission, acting as a land agent or consultant, writing Woodland Action plans, choosing suitable tree species, securing grants for planting trees and planting them, alongside another of our services of providing detailed carbon (CO2e) audits for a variety of companies and events means we have become a ‘one stop shop’ for sourcing the funding for UK woodland creation projects and implementing them in an efficient and streamline manner, thus helping both UK companies and landowners collaborate towards a path to net zero that encourages biodiversity, promotes local engagement and secures climate resilience here in the UK.
