Carbon offsetting woodlands now Soil Association Certified

Carbon offsetting woodlands now Soil Association Certified

Soil Association Certification’s Forestry division is now accredited to verify new woodlands to Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) standards. This means that individuals and businesses wishing to offset their carbon emissions by contributing to new woodlands can be assured that sequestration schemes will deliver the carbon savings they claim, while supporting certified-sustainable forestry businesses.

As a certifier, Soil Association Certification Forestry audits to the globally recognised FSC® and PEFC® forestry standards (FSC A000525, PEFC/16-44-917), safeguarding sustainable forest management for timber product sourcing. The reputation of certification with Soil Association Certification Forestry for its depth of expertise, flexibility and personal service, together with other schemes which assure legal and sustainable supply chains, has led to its invitation to become a validation and verification body for the WCC.

Kevin Jones, Head of Forestry at Soil Association Certification says, “Soil Association is looking forward to working with landowners and forest managers who wish to make a contribution to help curb global warming, while at the same time helping them to raise the funds needed to improve the landscape and environment in which we all live.”

Soil Association Certification’s Forestry department has been providing validation and verification services for Woodland Carbon Code applicants since 2016, and has now fully achieved its accreditation to ISO 14065. The WCC is a voluntary standard, encouraging a consistent approach to woodland carbon projects and offers clarity and transparency to customers. Compliance with the Woodland Carbon Code means that woodland carbon projects:

• Are responsibly and sustainably managed to national standards
• Can provide reliable estimates of the amount of carbon that will be sequestered or locked up as a result of tree planting
• Must be publicly registered and independently verified
• Meet transparent criteria and standards to ensure that real carbon benefits are delivered

Vicky West, Woodland Carbon Code scheme manager said:  “We are very pleased to see the accreditation of Soil Association Certification to validate and verify Woodland Carbon Code projects. This provides added assurance to carbon buyers of the robust nature of our scheme, which so far has grown to include over 240 projects across the UK, likely to sequester six million tonnes of carbon dioxide over their lifetime [1].”

Woodlands soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while providing a host of other benefits to society including biodiversity support, flood alleviation, improved water quality, sustainable timber and soil conservation, to name a few. Combined with the Woodland Carbon Code, carbon buyers have reassurance that they have invested in a responsible scheme and can see the benefits that will be provided.

The accreditation process to ISO 14065 required witness assessments of completed work by the UK Accreditation Service before the final sign off. Soil Association Certification Forestry’s experience, personal service and knowledge to validate and verify carbon sequestered by new UK forests means that carbon is traded with confidence.

References

1. Woodland Carbon Code statistics: new native woodland can capture 300-400 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per hectare (tCO₂e/ha) by year 50, and 400-500 tCO₂e/ha by year 100.