3. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Drivers
• People and companies realising the
potential that tree planting has to
soak up CO2 from the atmosphere
• Increasing number of schemes
encouraging individuals and
businesses to invest in tree
planting to compensate for their
carbon footprint
• Recognition that woodland creation
is a cost-effective means of
mitigating climate change
5. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
• Encourage a consistent approach to woodland carbon
projects by setting out national standards
• Provide rigorous carbon measurement protocols
• Reassure investors about voluntary woodland carbon
projects & encourage the market
• Offer clarity and transparency to customers
• Construct a framework that may support a mandatory
market for woodland carbon credits in the future
Objectives
7. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Requirements
To meet the requirements of the Code
projects will need to:
• Register with the FC, stating the exact
location and long-term objectives of
their project
• Meet national standards for
sustainable forest management
• Have a long-term management plan
• Use approved methods for estimating
the carbon that will be sequestered
• Demonstrate that the project
delivers additional carbon benefits than
would otherwise have been the case.
9. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Standards
Additionality
The carbon reductions would not have occurred without the input of
carbon finance;
Leakage
Avoided displacement of previous land-use to another area;
Permanence
Long-term management plan for the woodland, assessing and minimising
the risk of impermanence;
Carbon measurement
Options to accurately estimate the carbon sequestration of a woodland
project.
13. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Carbon Lookup Tables
Species Spacing
Yield
Class
Management
Period
(year)
Carbon
Standing
(tCO2e
/ha/yr)
Debris
(tCO2e
/ha/yr)
Soil
(tCO2e
/ha/yr)
Total
(tCO2e
/ha/yr)
Cumulative
in period
(tCO2e
/ha/yr)
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 0-5 3.1 0.8 0.0 3.9 19.3
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 5-10 9.5 0.9 0.0 10.4 52.0
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 10-15 15.9 0.9 0.0 16.8 84.1
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 15-20 15.9 0.9 0.0 16.8 84.1
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 20-25 15.1 0.8 0.0 15.9 79.6
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 25-30 11.5 -0.5 0.0 11.0 55.2
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 30-35 8.8 -0.6 0.0 8.2 40.8
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 35-40 8.3 -0.6 0.0 7.7 38.5
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 40-45 7.9 -0.4 0.0 7.6 37.8
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 45-50 8.4 -0.1 0.0 8.3 41.3
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 50-55 8.1 0.0 0.0 8.0 40.2
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 55-60 7.9 0.1 0.0 7.9 39.7
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 60-65 7.5 0.1 0.0 7.6 38.2
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 65-70 7.2 0.1 0.0 7.3 36.5
OK 1.2 6 NO_thin 70-75 6.8 0.1 0.0 6.9 34.7
14. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
•Choose one of 5 Protocols
•Divide woodland into ‘similar’
areas/units
•Field measurements to determine
tree stem volume
•Office calculations: tree volume
CO2 sequestered
Direct carbon measurement
16. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Applying
The application process for project proponents
Create a
Project
Design
Plan
(PDD)
Evaluate
Carbon
Value of
Woodland
Register
project on
the Code
website
Gain project
validation
from
certification
body
Manage the
project and
gain
verification
every 5 years,
or as specified
17. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Help with Applying
• Advice from the Forestry
Commission
• The verification body will
also provide advice and
guidance
• Contact with other
project participants who
have current or previous
experience
18. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
April June Aug Oct Dec Feb April June Aug Oct Dec Feb April
2009 2010 2011
Pre
consultation
Public
consultation
Build &
test web
portal
and
public
registry
Promotion
and
awareness
programme
Pilot phase
of Woodland
Carbon Code
(testing and
refining)
Accreditation
of third-party
verifiers
Review and
finalise
Code
Official
launch of
Woodland
Carbon Code
Project Schedule
19. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
What’s Happening Now?
• Piloting - Between now and April the
Woodland Carbon Code is being trialled
• Project Development - Around a dozen
woodland carbon projects across a range of
woodland types and sites will develop their
project and work towards certification
• Launch - Once the pilot phase is complete the
Code will be fully ‘open for business’ in 2011
20. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
The Code works for everyone involved:
Benefits
Customers have reassurance that they have invested
in a responsible scheme
Projects have recognised procedures and standards
to work to and can use their verified status to attract
customers and investors
Woodland managers have clear standards of
carbon management to follow
Carbon finance helps contribute to more woodland
creation and climate change mitigation
21. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
UK Woodfuel Barriers to
progress
• Many woodlands not managed for 50+ years
• Engaging with woodland owners - 80,000 owners 43
Woodland Officers.
• Small skills base in both forestry contractor and boiler
installer sectors
• Small number of boilers in use
• Fuel quality poorly understood, boilers need specific
moisture contents and chip sizes to work
• High capital cost of boilers and fuel processing kit,
uncertain and sometimes confusing grants for both fuel
producers and end users
• Public perception of forest management
22. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Current markets
• Most common application is heat production using
woodchips, logs or pellets
• Typical scale is between 50 - 1000kW (around 3000
installations at present)
• Generally a single boiler in a single building
• Growing interest in and application of ‘district heating’
systems - 1 boiler serving many buildings
• Creation of many small markets each using 10s or 100s
of tonnes suits scattered distribution of privately owned
woodland
• Many estate or farm based business starting with self
supply
• Energy Supply Companies - sell heat not woodchip
23. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Power generation
• 16 biomass fired power stations up and running in
the UK, roughly half use wood, stimulated by
Renewables Obligation
• ~30 planned of which 11 will use wood
• IF all go ahead this will require 30 million tonnes of
biomass. Many planned plants located on the coast,
ready for imports
• In 2005 Co-firing market used 1.5million tonnes of
biomass (and 52million tonnes of coal)
• Concern over what this market will do to non fuel
markets….
• ….but some wood processors have invested or are
looking to invest in power and/or heat generation
equipment
24. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Research and development
• FC funded research has focused on:
• Systems and equipment evaluation, chippers,
harvesting heads, time studies
• Attitudes of woodland owners to woodland
management - how can we unlock the potential?
• Case studies of fuel supply businesses and boilers
• Development of fuel quality standards - very
technical but could ultimately improve consumer
confidence
• Brash baling, site selection decision support
25. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Sustainability criteria
• Driven by EU Renewable Energy Directive but to be developed
on a national basis
• For government and society, no point in using biomass if this
leads to deforestation and environmental damage
• For the industry, demonstrating sustainability gives public
confidence and ensures future resource availability
• Need to balance need to regulate international supply chains
against admin burden on small scale domestic suppliers
• UK Forestry Standard provides a framework for sustainable
forest management.
• Evidence of compliance already available in the form of felling
licences and management plans
26. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
In Summary
• Woodfuel industry is small but market opportunity significant
• Needs of existing markets to be taken into account when
trying to stimulate new markets
• Attractive financial return to woodland owner needed to
mobilise unmanaged woodland
• Which ever energy and material technologies are adopted,
forestry is likely to play a significant role
• Wider general support crucial
• Greater awareness, access and markets today will bring
benefits tomorrow!
27. forestry.gov.uk/carboncode
Seeking views on draft guidance
on woodland creation
• Published 12th
October
• Views sought
by 7th
December
• UK-wide scope
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ghg-woodland/index.htm
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/reporting/
Take the opportunity to outline the work that’s being done to develop the Woodland Carbon Code, its key features and the anticipated benefits it’s hoped will result from it’s use.
What will the Woodland Carbon Code cover?
In its initial phase the WCC will cover UK Voluntary Woodland Creation Projects
May incorporate down stream benefits of woodlands eg. timber products, biofuel substitution in a later phase
Code facilitated by FC but development steered by an industry panel of experts (CAG) & Public Consultation
Why Develop a Code for Woodland Carbon?
3 things are increasing:
Recognition of the benefits:
Scottish Forests absorb 9.5MtCo2e/yr – almost one fifth of total national emissions (~55MtCo2/yr) - ~17%
Achieving the target of 10,000ha/yr would add over half a million tCo2/yr by 2020
The market - Increasing number of woodland carbon schemes:
International Voluntary Market has blossomed with 93MtCo2e being traded in 2009 worth $400M.
Forestry projects made up 24%
One third of companies based in Europe
Recognition that Woodland creation is cost-effective
Voluntary credits valued at around £3-£5/t/Co2
Barriers to development of the woodland carbon market
barriers exist due to:
Variable quality of previous schemes
No recognised standards for UK projects
Lack of knowledge in corporate world of the benefits of domestic woodland projects
Lack of access to regulated markets such as the UK Quality Assurance Scheme for Carbon Offsetting + EUETS (due to doubts over forestry reliability to deliver)
Objectives of the WCC:
Consistency of approach
Rigorous methodologies
Transparency of C sequestration claims
Reassurance to investors
Potential basis for future access to regulatory markets:
Defra consultation on national GHG reporting guidelines for woodland projects
runs to 7th Dec
Proposing that companies can report GHG removals/emissions from investment in woodland creation projects providing the project meets the requirements of the Woodland Carbon Code.
The Scheme has 5 elements:
The Code itself - Standards
A Registry
Carbon Measurement Tools
Independent Verification
A Piloting Process
The 5 Key Requirements of the Code:
To Register Project Details
Demonstrate that national standards for FM are being met (UKFS)
Use approved methods for calculating the benefits
Have a long-term management plan
Demonstrate that the savings are additional to Business as Usual
Setting out Standards
Although focussed on domestic projects - Code aligned with the core requirements of international standards,
Transparent rigour of using independent certification bodies accredited by UKAS.
WCC does not currently provide a route for compliance with internationally recognised carbon-offsetting standards but this is being explored.
Key Elements of the Standards:
The issues of additionality, leakage, permanence and accurate carbon measurement have, in the past, led to a lack of confidence in forest carbon sequestration projects.
The Code has been designed to provide robust standards
Tackle issues and reinstate public and corporate confidence
Combines sustainable forest carbon management and carbon stewardship.
In line with other similar carbon project standards, the Code will incorporate a project registry.
A web-based application that serves as a database for all Woodland Carbon Code projects.
To maintain transparency the registry will display a number of details about each project, including the name and/or contact details of the project manager, its location and grid reference, timescales and the estimated carbon that will be sequestered.
How will the Registry work?
The registry will be publicly available through the Code website
It will be used to display the details of woodland creation projects that are undergoing or have achieved certification
Unlike some international carbon registries, it will not ‘track’ carbon credits or be used as a platform for trading.
Transparent record-keeping procedures; up-to-date database maintained with records of all carbon will limit the risk of ‘double counting’ and poor record-keeping.
Help with counting carbon
There are many factors which might influence the rate at which a particular woodland will sequester carbon. As such, predicting the future sequestration rate of a new woodland can be difficult
To accompany the Code, Forest Research have developed 2 carbon measurement tools.
1. Look Up tables with default values for woodland carbon
2. Mensuration protocols for field measurements
These tools have been peer reviewed and provide a consistent method of predicting and measuring actual carbon sequestration
The Look Up tables include a range of:
Species,
Management (thinned or not),
Site productivity,
Planting density (initial spacing)
Key features:
Sequestration rate for 5-year intervals, from 0 to 200 years
Figures for whole-tree carbon and litter
Figures for soil still require further development
Carbon Lookup Tables can be used at the start of the project to anticipate how much carbon a particular woodland will sequester.
Guidance on how to use these lookup tables has been developed which details how to choose the most appropriate figures.
The Field Measurement Protocols include:
a suite of 5 Carbon Assessment Protocols developed by FR which detail how to go about undertaking such a survey of woodlands of differing age and size.
They include guidance for stratifying woodlands, carrying out sample measurement to estimate timber volumes and then converting into an estimate of the carbon stored.
Who can apply?
Anyone developing a forest carbon project in the UK may apply, so long as:
The project start date was no earlier than 1st January 2005
(Earlier ones unlikely to have used reliable methods).
The project involves direct woodland creation, on land that has not been under tree cover for at least 25 years
The project developer has legal ownership or tenure of the land for the duration of the crediting period
Steps in Application:
Create a long-term management plan (Project Design Plan)
Estimated the carbon sequestration value
Register the project details on the website
Arrange verification with an accredited certifier
Help with Applying
Appointment of a Woodland Carbon Code Implementation officer
Local Forestry Commission staff
Forest Research staff can give specialist advice on measuring carbon.
Certification bodies will have a thorough understanding of
Timeframe for the Code
Underwent initial public consultation in 2009
Code & guidance, website etc.. further developed in 2010
Code to be reviewed and finalised over the next 6 months up to end of March 2011
Scheme fully launched in spring 2011.
What’s happening now?
Piloting – between now and next April.
Project development – around a dozen participating pilot projects being developed around the UK – 4-5 in Scotland
Launch – plan to have the Code fully open for business in spring 2011
Benefits of introducing the Code
Designed to ensure that all parties involved in woodland carbon projects - have
greater confidence, and by doing so,
to encourage the growth of the woodland carbon market in the UK.
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The Approved WCC Project Logo
To be issued for use in connection with certified projects
Schemes or projects that meet requirements can carry the Woodland Carbon Code label of approval.
This can be used and displayed by the verified project proponents and by those who choose to invest in a project, such as a large business or corporation.
Further details available at:
[email_address]
www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode