The Forest Carbon Standard
In accordance with Kyoto Protocol and UK Forestry Commission principles, Forest Carbon defines its own
standards for UK forestry carbon sinks projects in the following areas:
standards for UK forestry carbon sinks projects in the following areas:
1. Additionality
2. Approved Carbon Calculation Model
3. Biodiversity and Sustainability
4. Permanence
5. Monitoring
(The Forestry Commission will be publishing their Code of Good Practice for UK forestry carbon schemes shortly.)
2. Approved Carbon Calculation Model
3. Biodiversity and Sustainability
4. Permanence
5. Monitoring
(The Forestry Commission will be publishing their Code of Good Practice for UK forestry carbon schemes shortly.)
Meets the
STANDARD
Made in the UK
1. ADDITIONALITY
A note on carbon sinks project standards in the UK...
The UK Forestry Commission has not yet finalised the UK standard for forestry sinks. The proposed standard (the development of which includes contributions from Forest Carbon) is about to go out to consultation. Stringent guidelines (such as those embedded in Australia's NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme and the UN's Kyoto CDM methodology) form its basis.
The purpose of such codes of practice is to ensure the
environmental and business integrity of these projects worldwide. Kyoto Protocol principles have provided the benchmark for standards worldwide, including our own.
Additionality must be demonstrated through independent verification of the
financial case for a project by a panel of Chartered Foresters and forest managers.
financial case for a project by a panel of Chartered Foresters and forest managers.
Carbon mitigation activity must be in addition to any activity that was already possible or expected to go ahead anyway - without carbon offset finance. The benefits arising from investment in environmental improvement measures must be new and real (not just ‘business as usual’) and ‘'additionality’' is the Kyoto Protocol principle that ensures this standard.
2. INDEPENDENTLY APPROVED CARBON CALCULATION MODEL
The Forest Carbon Calculator model is deliberately conservative so as to provide certainty that the carbon sequestered by a buyer is greater than, or equal to, the quantity of emissions they aim to offset.
Forest Carbon’'s Carbon Calculator Model has been approved by Dr Ronnie Milne of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology at Edinburgh University. Based on the ‘'yield class'’ of the timber –(i.e. expected annual growth rate of usable stem timber) –our measurement method was designed to be both simple and conservative. Annual growth rate is independently supplied by the UK Forestry Commission - our projects also use the tree species recommended by the Forestry Commission'’s Ecological Site Classification model. Calculations include stem timber only and they exclude the carbon held in branches, roots and soil. Hence an investor will buy, on average, only 35% of the carbon that is actually being captured by the project as a whole. The balance is held in
perpetuity as a buffer against contingencies (such as slower-than-expected growth).
perpetuity as a buffer against contingencies (such as slower-than-expected growth).
3. BIODIVERSITY & SUSTAINABILITY
Forest Carbon projects are independently certified to UK government standards to validate
and register their valuable contribution towards biodiversity in the UK.
and register their valuable contribution towards biodiversity in the UK.
In any project biodiversity (the multiplicity of life forms and natural patterns essential for our continued existence on earth) is key: (1) As a signatory to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity the UK must meet 2010 biodiversity loss reduction targets. The UK Action Plan includes a target for new woodlands that meet the UKWAS (UK Woodland Assurance Scheme) Standard. (2) Forests part funded by the UK Forestry Commission are first
assessed for environmental impact. Forest Carbon projects must meet both tests.
assessed for environmental impact. Forest Carbon projects must meet both tests.
(above) Forest Carbon's James Hepburne Scott planted this young mixed species mini-woodland in his own backyard a few years back.
4. PERMANENCE
'Permanence' is a key element in Forest Carbon projects - 3 separate measures ensure that the environmental benefits of any emissions mitigation scheme are not reversed.
Obviously any scheme designed to cancel unavoidable emissions by providing benefits to the environment must be permanent - or those benefits (and the scheme's integrity) are cancelled. In
the case of a forestry 'offset' this means the scheme's trees cannot die or be felled. Forest Carbon projects mitigate risk of failure in three ways: (1) our methodology includes a very generous contingency for a large number of the trees to die or to grow more slowly than anticipated;
(2) landowners are committed by the Forest Carbon contract to replace any tree lost for any reason; (3) UK law forbids the felling of forests in the UK without first committing to replace them.
the case of a forestry 'offset' this means the scheme's trees cannot die or be felled. Forest Carbon projects mitigate risk of failure in three ways: (1) our methodology includes a very generous contingency for a large number of the trees to die or to grow more slowly than anticipated;
(2) landowners are committed by the Forest Carbon contract to replace any tree lost for any reason; (3) UK law forbids the felling of forests in the UK without first committing to replace them.
5. MONITORING
Forest Carbon projects are independently monitored and registered with
all details accessible to investors for inspection.
all details accessible to investors for inspection.
It is important that participants in woodland emissions mitigation schemes can see that what they have paid for is actually happening. Forest Carbon projects are monitored for growth and good management until year 10 by the UK Forestry Commission, and will be monitored thereafter by independent Chartered Foresters. Our projects will also be registered with the Confederation of Forest Industries'’ independent carbon forestry scheme register. The woodland sites
are accessible to the public so investors can go and see the trees for themselves.
are accessible to the public so investors can go and see the trees for themselves.
Ltd
Registered in England and Wales: No: 06041000 NETPark, Thomas Wright Way. Sedgefield, Co. Durham, TS21 3FD, UK t: +44 (0) 0845 680 4480 f: +44 (0) 0845 680 4490 e: info@forestcarbon.co.uk
