Alice Brawley, Woodland Creation and Carbon Developer at Forest Direct, reflects on the role of woodland creation for carbon capture in today’s climate.
With tree planting used as a bartering tool in the last general election, David Attenborough’s ‘act now’ messages filling our TV screens, and the Scottish Government announcing a climate emergency, it is no wonder tree planting for carbon capture has taken the world by storm. Trees have a remarkable ability to suck CO2 from the atmosphere, allowing forests to offer significant climate mitigation benefits.
However, trees are important in their own right and it is vital we do not see the carbon before the tree.
Today, Scotland’s forestry industry is at a shifting point. We recognise we are the second-largest net importer of wood in the world, despite having wide growing conditions and space in much of the country for forests. The monoculture plantations which coat our landscapes are no longer acceptable and we must design diverse forests which fit their surroundings and are resilient to climate change.
We have great potential to grow local and sustainable trees to meet our timber demands and reduce our reliance on imported material. We must also transform the image of productive forestry in Scotland to one that welcomes diversity, encourages a mixture of silvicultural practices, and changes how we view production to centre it around longevity, sustainability, and people.
Background to Woodland Carbon Code
At Forest Direct, we see carbon as a tool to facilitate greater woodland creation. This is driven through the Woodland Carbon Code, a government-backed voluntary UK standard that offers additional financial support to those thinking about planting new woodlands. It relies on a carbon market whereby carbon emitters (individuals, companies) invest in woodland creation projects to reduce their carbon emissions.
New woodland creation schemes designed for certification under the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) deliver a commitment to carbon capture. The calculations which estimate the carbon potential of a woodland are well-researched and incredibly conservative. Many safeguards are built-in, including the retention of a 20% buffer to account for any unavoidable losses and to safeguard the investments made. This means you can rest assured your woodland is leaving a legacy that will benefit our planet and future generations in years to come.
The WCC benefits landowners by facilitating additional income streams to support this permanent change in land use to woodland. This is achieved by converting the captured carbon to carbon units. These are defined as either:
Design considerations
Since the Woodland Carbon Code is a voluntary market, meaning it relies on businesses actively deciding to offset their carbon emissions, they determine what they pay for the carbon units. As a result, it is both intrinsically and financially advantageous to design woodlands that bring multiple benefits. Most buyers of woodland carbon units want a powerful story to complement their purchase. This embodies various social and ecological benefits including:
The woodland carbon market is evolving rapidly. Between 2019 and 2020 the number of schemes registered with the Woodland Carbon Code doubled. In response, the Woodland Carbon Code process is also evolving. A recent update to come into effect on July 1st 2021 is the requirement for projects to be registered before planting commences. This no doubt ensures the WCC was a true incentive behind encouraging woodland creation, and schemes were not retrospectively fitted.
Forest Direct’s Role
Forest Direct is made up of experienced and passionate foresters, ecologists, landscape advisors and nature enthusiasts. We design woodlands which (1) suit the site; (2) fit the landowner; (3) support and encourage biodiversity and (4) expand Scotland’s potential for growing local, sustainable timber.
If you are a farmer, landowner or community group interested in woodland creation and the Woodland Carbon Code please:
We can fix the mistakes of the past. To integrate trees into our landscapes in a way that is socially, environmentally, and economically advantageous. Are you on board?
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