Forestry's Role

Trees capture CO2

As a woodland grows and re-seeds itself it feeds on CO2, turning it into wood and oxygen. Some of that trapped carbon sneaks back into the atmosphere from the old dying trees, but on balance a permanent woodland traps a considerable net amount of  CO2. Our schemes are mostly based on permanent native woodlands, but even if you were to use that wood for furniture or roof trusses, the original trapped CO2 would remain locked in forever, and of course new trees would grow in the place of those removed that would capture even more CO2.

The amount of CO2 that any given woodland ‘sequesters’ and ‘sinks’ in this way can be measured scientifically.  Likewise, the amount of CO2 produced by industry and households can be calculated. Using both estimates it’s possible to design a woodland creation scheme for an organisation that wants to compensate the environment for its unavoidable emissions using the pollution-cleansing power of trees

Voluntary action of this type is commendable but it cannot be used as a ticket for lax or irresponsible behaviour - partners need to be working on reducing their emissions before they 'offset' the remainder. 

Other Benefits

Our partners opt for the natural solution of  woodland creation for their carbon footprints knowing that carbon  woodlands are also rich in fringe benefits, such as habitat for  biodiversity, recreational space, flood mitigation, soil and water  protection,and cleaner air. The method may be slow to capture CO2 but it is free from  collateral damage and begins to deliver some of its other benefits  almost immediately (for example the simple act of fencing a new woodland  off from grazing instantly improves biodiversity and flood reduction).  More forests are needed across the world, not least in Britain whose  tree cover is a mere 12% compared with mainland Europe’s 37%

Trees reduce flooding and improve rivers

Under UK Climate Change Risk Assessment projections flooding is one the biggest threats we face, and woodland creation along watercourses can play a significant part in reducing the impacts of high and concentrated rainfall. There is a considerable body of practical knowledge and research evidence pointing to riparian woodlands as an effective means of flood management, through the following means:

By reducing the amount of water reaching the watercourses, and then lengthening the period over which the surge of water is delivered to a watercourse, flooding is either prevented altogether or reduced. Upstream flood management is also very cost-effective – removing the need for difficult to implement flood protection, or the expensive consequences of flooding, in urban areas.

Woodland can also improve water quality and habitat - preventing run-off agricultural pollution from reaching watercourses, and lowering water temperature though shading.

Trees contribute economically

Trees can also contribute to the economy:

Where our
woodlands are

Forest Carbon leads the way in voluntary carbon woodland creation in the UK. Through the planting of over 7.5 million new trees in 145+ new woodlands in the UK since 2006 our partners’ projects are removing over 1,900,000 tonnes of CO2 from the global atmosphere, as well as providing a host of other benefits to society, including flood mitigation, river improvement and public access.

The quality of our schemes is assured by the UK government’s Woodland Carbon Code which certifies our projects in important areas like biodiversity, ‘additionality’, risk management and carbon capture measurement.

Compensating for your unavoidable environmental impact by helping to create a new woodland is rewarding in many ways. Check out our woodland location map and see what trees we’ve planted.

View projects map