‘Carbon lockup’ scheme pushes new horizons in carbon reduction

Trees are Nature’s own carbon capture and storage system, fully functioning, wonderfully efficient for millions of years. The UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, the Woodland Trust believes its new tree planting carbon reduction scheme is one of the answers to tackling climate change.

Although reducing and avoiding carbon emissions is paramount, the Woodland Trust’s new ‘Woodland Carbon’ project will help individuals, groups and companies to mitigate their residual carbon emissions by planting trees at UK sites, whilst at the same time creating valuable wildlife habitats, aiding flood alleviation, offering wind protection and creating native woodland for people to enjoy.

As part of the programme, hundreds of thousands of trees will be planted in Woodland Trust woods across the UK. Whilst helping achieve the Trust’s aim of creating 1000 hectares of new woodland per year, these trees will also lock up carbon and thus reduce atmospheric CO2 in the long term. As part of the Trust’s estate these new woods will be properly managed in perpetuity.

Dr Nick Atkinson of the Woodland Trust commented: “Climate change caused by carbon dioxide emissions is a major long term threat to woodland in the UK. That’s especially true for ancient woodland, an irreplaceable habitat, the richest wildlife refuge in the UK. Not only will the newly created woodland play a significant role by locking up carbon, but they will also help to buffer and protect these valuable habitats upon which many of our most vulnerable native species depend.”

Woods are great places in which people can enjoy nature and stay fit but they also play a vital role in providing space for wildlife. Future climate change will see an increased need to buffer existing ancient woodland and enable wildlife to move through the landscape, allowing species to adapt to new conditions.

Dr Atkinson adds: “Deforestation accounts for one fifth of global carbon emissions, more than the combined emissions of every vehicle on the planet. The Trust’s Woodland Carbon scheme offers a unique way to capture and store carbon emissions and at the same time helps reforest the UK. Through this programme we can help reach the Trust’s target of planting 1 million trees a year, enough to counterbalance 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking around 80,000 cars off the road.”

Woodland Carbon will be independently verified by leading auditors Price Waterhouse Coopers and all newly created woodland will be managed under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Standards. Together these measures will ensure delivery of projected carbon capture, which the Trust has calculated to be one tonne of CO2 for every 25m2 of newly created native woodland.

To find out more information please visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/carbon

For media enquiries please call the press office on 01476 581 121

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