Latest news with #WoodlandCarbonCode
The Herald Scotland
01-08-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Experts call for more community ownership of Scotland's woodlands
The analysis by experts in forestry and land use highlights concern from across Scotland about the role of industrial forestry corporations and asset management organisations who increasingly dominate the ownership and management of Scotland's forests. The research concludes that more community ownership and management of woodlands, and more diverse ownership of forests across Scotland would increase community wealth and lead to greater environmental benefits, as well as producing more actively managed forests in Scotland. In three new discussion papers, forestry experts Willie McGhee and Jon Hollingdale analyse the effectiveness and impact of industrial forestry on local areas as well as for meeting national carbon and timber targets. READ MORE: Industrial forestry refers to predominantly single species, mostly unmanaged, Sitka Spruce forest, contrasting with more climatically resilient, sustainable, mixed species forestry. The papers recognise that, while mixed productive forestry has an important part to play in reaching Net Zero and delivering economic and social opportunities, basic assumptions about the economic, climatic and environmental benefits of industrial forestry can be questionable. The new papers were commissioned by Community Land Scotland (CLS), the lead body representing community landowners in Scotland. Dr Josh Doble, Director of Policy and Advocacy at CLS, said: 'These papers are designed to prompt discussion about industrial forestry and what an alternative forestry sector could look like in a Scotland which prioritises sustainable timber, community wealth building, climate and biodiversity.' Willie McGhee has long experience in the forestry and community woodland sector. He is a forest manager and owner, a Director of the Forest Policy Group and a Trustee with the Community Woodlands Association. Dr Josh Doble, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Community Land Scotland (Image: Nick Mailer) His carbon report states that 'questionable assumptions, and research gaps - particularly with respect to forest practice on peat soils — mean we may be overestimating the benefit of afforestation as a means of locking up carbon and offsetting carbon emissions.' This applies to both native woodlands and industrial forest. The impact of trees on peat, the relatively short lifespan of timber products, and questionable claims regarding product substitution are subjects of ongoing scientific debate. Such uncertainty raises questions about the Woodland Carbon Code, the UK Government mechanism for monetising forest carbon sequestration. Forestry's contribution to Scotland's [[Net Zero]] targets is a key justification for Scottish Government subsidy support for afforestation, which, in turn fuels large-scale acquisitions for investment forestry groups. The paper describes some practical ways in which Scottish forestry could more effectively capture and store carbon. These include changes to forestry management practice; reducing reliance on clear-felling, increasing the length of forest rotations, and a moratorium on planting peaty soils. 'We should be doing more intelligent and nuanced forest management to protect soils and soil carbon and to create diverse timber producing forests, both native and exotic conifer, managed on longer (harvest) rotations or as permanent forest', Willie McGhee said. Experts are calling for more community ownership of Scotland's woodlands. (Image: Landfor) Willie McGhee's timber paper looks at the issues of 'timber security' and Scottish forestry products. Much of which goes for biomass, pallets, fencing, sheds and other short lived timber products. Most high-quality timber for construction is imported due to industry perceptions of UK timber, and a trend towards fast growing species and short harvesting rotation cycles; these to maximise profits rather than maximising timber quality, social and environmental benefits, including climate mitigation impacts. Jon Hollingdale is an independent forestry and land use consultant and researcher. He has had a variety of roles in the forestry sector, including 15 years as the CEO of the Community Woodlands Association. His new research paper assesses the impact of investment forestry on the land market and forestry practice. As his paper outlines, the financial advantages of land ownership and the largely unregulated land market facilitate speculation and are long-term obstacles to community wealth building; recent price spikes and the limited supply of forest land add further barriers to the ambitions of communities. Dr Josh Doble said: 'Community Land Scotland members have raised concerns about the impact of industrial coniferous forestry in their local areas. We as an organisation are concerned about the role of industrial forestry corporations and asset management organisations in further consolidating the ownership and management of Scotland's forests. 'The research includes a call for a more integrated, locally focused, and active forest management. That resonates with the community wealth building approach which we have been arguing should underpin all land management in Scotland." He added: 'If Scotland wants to be timber secure, and produce high quality timber for construction, how our forests are managed needs to be reformed. A clear way of reforming them would be to change some of the ownership patterns, allowing more local ownership and ensuring forests are actively managed over longer timescales to grow quality timber."
Finextra
11-07-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Oxygen Conservation and Burges Salmon announce £1 million partnership for 8,000 UK-based carbon cred
Leading natural capital asset manager Oxygen Conservation and independent UK law firm Burges Salmon have announced the signing of a landmark partnership valued at up to £1 million. As part of the agreement, Burges Salmon will be the exclusive buyer of up to 8,000 premium-quality, UK-based carbon credits which will be provided at £125 per tonne. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Funding one of the UK's most ambitious nature restoration projects on the beautiful Leighon Estate in Dartmoor, Devon, the partnership demonstrates an important shift in how the voluntary carbon market operates - moving from transactional offsets to transformative investments that deliver measurable environmental and social benefits. Importantly, the credits generated by this project go far beyond simply sequestering carbon, they are designed to deliver deep, lasting ecological value, connecting with a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) scheme to form larger, more resilient ecosystems. Rich Stockdale, CEO of Oxygen Conservation, comments: 'Selling our first carbon credits to Burges Salmon marks not just a milestone for Oxygen Conservation, but a defining moment for natural capital markets. Burges Salmon has an established reputation in sustainability and their commitment to environmental integrity, their extensive due diligence, and their deep alignment with our values make them the perfect partner. In a space too often clouded by criticism, this deal is a clear signal; when carbon credits are underpinned by quality, transparency, and genuine impact, the market responds with conviction. This isn't just a transaction - it's proof that natural capital is no longer an emerging opportunity. It's an investable, valuable, and scalable asset class whose time has come.' Ross Fairley, Burges Salmon's new Senior Partner and a long-time leader in environmental and clean energy law, adds: 'This partnership is about helping to set a new standard for how organisations like ourselves engage with nature and lead with purpose. We have a long heritage of demonstrating that you can be a top law firm as well as a responsible business. We know clients and our people increasing value this approach. We're proud to be working with Oxygen Conservation to build a model that others can learn from, replicate, and be inspired by.' Setting the standard for premium quality credits, financing real climate and nature solutions With credits registered under the UK Woodland Carbon Code and independently validated by the Soil Association, Oxygen Conservation uses innovative drone-based monitoring systems to ensure high transparency and buyer assurance. The credits purchased by Burges Salmon will be generated through large-scale nature restoration and native woodland creation on the Leighon Estate. This 861-acre estate is owned by The Dixon Foundation, a UK registered charity, and managed by Oxygen Conservation. In furtherance of the charity's objectives the project forms part of a long-term effort to restore the ancient Atlantic rainforest, regenerating one of the UK's most precious and biodiverse ecosystems through a blend of natural regeneration and targeted tree planting. With an absolute carbon reduction target in place, approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative, Burges Salmon recognises that carbon reduction is its number one priority. However, as the firm transitions to Net Zero it wants to address its residual emissions through a meaningful carbon partnership that will deliver significant benefit to environment and nature. How the carbon partnership works Together, Burges Salmon and Oxygen Conservation are demonstrating what meaningful, values-led collaboration can achieve, setting a new standard for integrity, transparency, and lasting environmental impact in the carbon market. This includes:
The Herald Scotland
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Forest in 'easily accessible and scenic' hills up for sale
Landfor Chartered Land and Forestry Agency is marketing said: 'Waterhead Hill is situated within the scenic and easily accessible Campsie Fells, approximately 2.8 miles north of Lennoxtown and around 18 miles north of Glasgow in central Scotland. 'The property is located southeast of the B822 'Crow Road,' offering convenient access to the regional road network and beyond.' The agent added: 'The Campsie Fells are renowned for their stunning landscapes and expansive views, making them a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. 'The region's climate and soil conditions are well-suited for producing high-quality commercial timber, and its central location ensures excellent access to various timber markets across central and southern Scotland. Key timber markets within a 70-mile radius include James Jones & Sons in Lockerbie, Egger in Cumnock, UPM in Ayrshire, and Norbord in Stirling.' The forest is easily accessible. (Image: Landfor) Landfor also said: 'Waterhead Hill was planted in the autumn of 2018 under an approved Forestry Grant Scheme contract. The core of the planting scheme consists of a high-yielding Sitka spruce and Norway spruce crop, aimed at future timber production, with additional areas allocated to mixed broadleaves and open ground. 'The land lies between 300 and 515 metres above sea level, with the planted area rising to 425 metres. In 2018, 46.20 hectares of Waterhead Hill were registered and validated under the Woodland Carbon Code. With verification now completed, the project is expected to sequester approximately 9,436 tonnes of carbon over its 75-year lifespan.' Offers over £775,000 are invited. Airport eases liquid restrictions for hand luggage Edinburgh Airport has ditched a rule requiring travellers to carry liquids under 100ml when going through security. It becomes the first airport in Scotland to lift the policy, introduced in 2006 in response to a foiled terrorist plot to detonate liquid explosives on transatlantic flights. From Monday, July 7, passengers departing on flights from Edinburgh will be allowed to carry liquid containers up to two litres in their hand luggage. In April Edinburgh Airport announced liquids and electrical items no longer had to be removed from bags, after purchasing eight new scanners costing £24m. Money HQ 💷 Retirement saving hacks for young people This article appears as part of the Money HQ newsletter.
Leader Live
09-05-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
FUW on the private environmental payments for farmers
Are private environmental payments a potential goldmine, or a minefield for farmers? Payments for carbon sequestration, Biodiversity 'Net Gain', ecosystem services such as natural flood management, or habitat creation and 'nutrient trading', are showing an increase in interest from the private market. The FUW's Land Use Committee have recently published a report outlining five key 'needs' to ensure farmers can take advantage of, but also be protected within, these new markets. These include clarity and transparency; regulation and protection; access to schemes and rewarding active management; a balance between land use demands and permanence and last but not least; a fair price. It's important the Union engages in the design of these markets to ensure they work for Wales' family farms whilst protecting food production and our rural communities. Clarity and transparency is needed as it can be difficult for farmers to find opportunities, trusted brokers, and information on the practical and financial implications of these actions. In addition farmers need clarity on how these opportunities will interact with public financing via government-led schemes. Whilst standards and 'principles' have been published by the UK, Scottish and Welsh Government to improve the integrity of these markets, the FUW has argued that these do not go far enough in providing regulations which protect farmers. For example, climate change brings more extreme weather, pathogens and pests but this is not considered a 'force majeure' (e.g. wildfires in planted woodlands) as the unpredictability of climate change has been predicted. Such a situation has the potential to leave the farmer with costly replanting liabilities. Access to these schemes is currently the biggest barrier for smaller farms, especially tenants. The average size of a farm in Wales is 48 hectares, yet the cost of registration, validation and monitoring per project via, for example, the Woodland Carbon Code, means economies of scale are better suited to take advantage of the income available. This perhaps explains why Scotland's estates are already active in these markets. Balancing sometimes conflicting land use demands with the long term commitment of some of these schemes is a real challenge for farmers, in an uncertain trading and political climate, both domestically and globally. Farmers have to weigh up current and potential future income streams with what works for their businesses, families and land types and find projects which complement the farming system, such as Soil Carbon payments. A fair price should be a prerequisite but in reality farmers have seen dwindling government budgets for the maintenance and management of habitat, or schemes which provide 'income foregone' or capital contributions as opposed to genuinely reflecting the management skills, vision, planning time, local knowledge, capital costs and commitments these actions require. The private market, if they are to succeed in their ambitions, will need to prove to farmers that it can provide a long term and fair return for their work.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memories of woodland fun and the work of the Forestry Commission
Our local forests have long been hives of activity, and we're looking back at some of the events they've hosted and the organisation responsible for them. A training day for childminders at Whinlatter Forest (Image: Newsquest) The Forestry Commission is a government department responsible for the management of publicly owned forests and the regulation of both public and private forestry in England. Forestry Commission harvest and site supervisor Paul Allen with a £300,000 harvester (Image: Newsquest) It was established in 1919 to expand Britain's forests and woodland, which had been severely depleted during the First World War. The commission bought large amounts of agricultural land on behalf of the state, eventually becoming the largest manager of land in Britain. Adrian Jones, manager at the Forestry Commission at Whinlatter (Image: Newsquest) Today, the Forestry Commission is divided into three divisions: Forestry England, Forestry Commission and Forest Research. Over time, its purpose broadened to include many other activities beyond timber production. ADVERTISEMENT Shane Lowe, 16, of Tebay, won the prestigious John Muir Trust Conserver Award thanks to his work with the Forestry Commission (Image: Newsquest) One major activity is scientific research, some of which is carried out in research forests across Britain. Recreation is also important, with several outdoor activities being actively promoted. Protecting and improving biodiversity across England's forests are a further part of the Forestry Commission's remit. Bike specialist Cyclewise Whinlatter and the Forestry Commission created two new courses for the young mountain bike enthusiast (Image: Newsquest) Before the setting up of separate bodies for Scotland, the organisation managed almost 700,000 hectares (about 1.7 million acres) of land in England and Scotland, making it the country's biggest land manager. Brownies from Cleator Moor teamed up with the Forestry Commission to mark their centenary and help make the area greener (Image: Newsquest) Deforestation was the main reason for the creation of the commission in 1919. Britain had only five per cent of its original forest cover left and the government wanted to create a strategic resource of timber. ADVERTISEMENT Claire Steel and Savannah Carruthers, three, from Workington meet The Gruffalo on the Forestry Commission's trail (Image: Newsquest) Since then forest coverage has doubled and the commission's remit expanded to include greater focus on sustainable forest management and maximising public benefits. Woodland creation continues to be an important role of the commission, and it works closely with government to achieve its goal of 12 per cent forest coverage by 2060, championing initiatives such as The Big Tree Plant and Woodland Carbon Code. Tawny owl numbers were soaring at the Forestry Commission's Kielder Forest (Image: Newsquest) The Forestry Commission is also the government body responsible for the regulation of private forestry in England; felling is generally illegal without first obtaining a licence from the commission. It is also responsible for encouraging new private forest growth and development. Part of this role is carried out by providing grants in support of private forests and woodlands.
