Woodland Carbon Code - Chris Waterfield (Forestry Commission)

Woodland Carbon Code

Chris Waterfield - Forestry Commission

forestry.gov.uk/carboncode

Woodland Carbon Code

The Woodland Carbon Code is a voluntary code designed to encourage a consistent approach to Woodland Creation Projects involving carbon statements & claims.


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


Investors want to know schemes will actually deliver what they claim

UK woodland projects can’t generate international carbon offsets

Some forest carbon projects have been of variable quality

Barriers


• 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


Robust standards

Forest carbon measurement protocols and

tools

Independent Verification

Process

Pilot woodland carbon projects

A project registry

Elements of the Code


RequirementsTo 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.

Woodland Carbon CodeThe Standards


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.

Woodland Carbon CodeThe Registry


Project Registry

Woodland Carbon CodeCounting Carbon


Carbon Lookup Tables

Species SpacingYield Class

ManagementPeriod (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 19.3OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 5-10 9.5 0.9 0.0 10.4 52.0OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 10-15 15.9 0.9 0.0 16.8 84.1OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 15-20 15.9 0.9 0.0 16.8 84.1OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 20-25 15.1 0.8 0.0 15.9 79.6OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 25-30 11.5 -0.5 0.0 11.0 55.2OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 30-35 8.8 -0.6 0.0 8.2 40.8OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 35-40 8.3 -0.6 0.0 7.7 38.5OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 40-45 7.9 -0.4 0.0 7.6 37.8OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 45-50 8.4 -0.1 0.0 8.3 41.3OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 50-55 8.1 0.0 0.0 8.0 40.2OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 55-60 7.9 0.1 0.0 7.9 39.7OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 60-65 7.5 0.1 0.0 7.6 38.2OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 65-70 7.2 0.1 0.0 7.3 36.5OK 1.2 6 NO_ thin 70-75 6.8 0.1 0.0 6.9 34.7


•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

Woodland Carbon CodeApplying


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


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


April June Aug Oct Dec Feb April June Aug Oct Dec Feb April

2009 2010 2011

Preconsultation

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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!


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.htmhttp://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/reporting/


Your views

what’s right?

what’s wrong?

what’s missing?

will it work?

?


The ‘Approved Project’ Logo

Any questions?

Details at:

E: [email protected] or

[email protected]

W: www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Education

Woodland Carbon Code - Chris Waterfield (Forestry Commission)