The Forestry Commission wants to hear people’s views on a draft Code of Good Practice for Forest Carbon Projects.
It published the draft Code today, and comments are being invited via a national consultation being held between now and September.
'Forest carbon projects' typically involve planting new areas of forest and woodland to help counteract the greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. One of the main greenhouse gases that are causing global warming and climate change is carbon dioxide (CO2). As trees grow they capture CO2 from the atmosphere and turn the carbon into wood and organic matter, whilst also releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere.
The UK forestry sector, led by the Forestry Commission, is developing the Code of Good Practice in response to the growing interest in such projects as the UK becomes more carbon conscious. People and businesses are keen to support tree planting as a contribution to a low-carbon future, and for all the other benefits that woodlands bring.
However, many businesses and consumers are put off because there are currently no uniform standards for UK forest carbon projects. People want to know whether forest carbon schemes, often sold as 'carbon offsetting' schemes, will actually deliver what they claim.
The Code of Good Practice for Forest Carbon Projects is therefore aimed at building confidence by providing a consistent approach to forest carbon projects, offering clarity and transparency to customers about what their contributions will achieve. It will provide the basis of a quality assurance scheme, involving a national project registry and a project inspection process.
Tim Rollinson, Director-General of the Forestry Commission, said:
"Forests and woodlands have a hugely important role to play in the fight against climate change, because trees are one of nature's most efficient carbon-capture mechanisms. We want to see this capacity harnessed through increased woodland planting by encouraging greater investment in forestry projects that contribute to a low-carbon economy.
"Many businesses and consumers want to play their part, but there are currently no uniform standards for forest carbon projects. This Code of Good Practice will help by establishing robust requirements for voluntary carbon sequestration projects. It will provide the clarity and quality assurance that people are looking for.
"This Code is not about trying to tree-plant our way out of trouble. Woodland creation can make a valuable and very visible contribution as one of the full range of carbon-reduction actions that must be taken to prevent catastrophic climate change.”
The Commission has been supported in this initiative by a Carbon Advisory Group of leading environmental and forestry organisations, including the Institute of Chartered Foresters. Bill MacDonald, its President, welcomed the Code, saying,
"This Code will be an important step in ensuring the maintenance of professional standards in this new aspect of forestry."
The Commission is inviting comments on the draft Code by September 14, 2009. The consultation document can be downloaded from www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode, or free paper copies may be requested from Theresa Andrew, telephone 0131 314 6375; e-mail: theresa.andrew@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.
Further information about the Code of Good Practice is available from cogp.consultation@forestry.gsi.gov.uk), and further information about forests and climate change is available from the Forestry Commission's climate change website, www.forestry.gov.uk/climatechange.
Notes to editor:
- The Code of Good Practice for Forest Carbon Projects makes a distinction between 'carbon offsets' that can be traded on international carbon markets and 'carbon reduction actions' taking place in the UK. This is because, in common with most Annex 1 (developed) countries, accounting rules and the complexities of 'Kyoto rules' prevent tradable carbon offsets from being generated in the UK.
- The Defra Quality Assurance Scheme for Voluntary Offsetting, launched this year, provides guidance on schemes that do generate tradable 'carbon offsets'. The offsets associated with those schemes are generated outside the UK, primarily in developing countries. Projects covered by the Code of Good Practice for Forest Carbon Projects are therefore outside the scope of Defra's QAS at present.
- The Stern Report into the economic impacts of climate change identified steps such as halting deforestation, planting new forests, restoring lost and degraded forests and sustainably managing existing forests as some of the most cost-effective measures available to combat climate change. Deforestation, or forest removal, is the second biggest source of greenhouse gases, contributing an estimated 18 per cent of the total. This occurs because, when trees and plants burn or decompose, and when soil is disturbed, they release carbon into the atmosphere, and no compensating replanting or regeneration of the forest occurs to recapture it.
- The Forestry Commission has made action on climate change its priority. It has:
commissioned an assessment of the current state of knowledge of the interaction between forests and climate. The assessment panel is due to report in autumn 2009;
established a Centre for Forestry & Climate Change at its Forest Research agency;
commissioned a video presentation on forests and climate change which has been translated into 12 languages and used by forestry organisations in many countries. The presentation can be viewed on www.forestry.gov.uk/climatechange;
hosted two conferences of scientists, policy makers and forest planners to explore ways in which the potential role of forests in mitigating climate change can be achieved; and
working with the News of the World newspaper, launched a UK-wide educational campaign called "Seeds for Schools" to teach children about trees and their interactions with the climate. See www.seedsforschools.org. - The Forestry Commission is the government department for forestry in Great Britain. For further information visit www.forestry.gov.uk. The Institute of Chartered Foresters (www.charteredforesters.org) is the professional association for UK foresters.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Charlton Clark, 0131 314 6500, or Colin Morton, 0131 314 6249.