Project verification: a vital but cumbersome task… That you don’t have to do!
Verification is the Codes’ way of ensuring that a woodland or peatland project is delivering on its objectives. For woodlands, this means that the trees are growing as expected at the correct density and growth rate. For peatlands, this means that restoration interventions are working to rewet the area resulting in a condition category change in each assessment unit.
Each version of verification takes time; you’re either walking around the site counting and measuring trees or poring over satellite imagery to identify revegetation. The good news is, you don’t have to do this because we can do it for you.
Purchasing the project verification package means:
Streamlined progress towards certification. We do this a lot.
You could gain access to grouping so verification costs may be lower
The majority of the administrative burden is taken off of your shoulders
What does verification entail?
Verification is the third and final (but ongoing) step in Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code certification – the first is registration and the second is validation. We can help you with the entire process, or with just one or two of the stages.
Verification involves several site visits from verifiers throughout a project’s lifetime; the first happens at year 5 and then every 10 years thereafter until the contract ends. They should begin 18 months before the deadline. During this time, we will:
Engage one of the auditors accredited under the respective Code
Propose a plan for the verification which must be signed off by the auditor (and occasionally the Woodland Carbon Code or Peatland Code bodies themselves).
Once signed off, we do an initial site assessment to gather the data required for the project progress report.
Complete the required documentation outlining the condition of the project before handing these over to the verifier. We deal with any requests for further information, clarification or corrective actions quickly and efficiently.
The auditor will conduct a site visit to check our verification data and relay its findings back to the respective Code.
(Woodland Carbon Code only) When the verification is successful, the auditor will issue a Verification Statement. If your project is delivering as expected, you will receive a ‘green rating’. If not, you will be issued either an amber or red rating, both of which require remedial action which we can guide you through.
As long as everything is in check, Pending Issuance Units (PIUs) can begin to convert to ex-post credits (WCUs or PCUs) from year 5.
GET IN TOUCH to discuss project verification for your Woodland Carbon Code or Peatland Code project.
Looking to sell carbon?
Since the inception of the UK Land Carbon Registry, Forest Carbon has sold hundreds of thousands of carbon credits (PIUs) on behalf of British land managers/farmers. Find out more about selling carbon.
