WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3
10.09.2015
SMALL Group Project Design Document (PDD)
Version 0.3 10 September 2015
Template for UK based SMALL forest carbon projects seeking validation
as a group under the Woodland Carbon Code
Small Project-Group Name:
[insert name]
Name of Small-Group Manager:
[insert group manager’s name]
UK Woodland Carbon Registry
Unique Small-Group ID
[insert unique ID]
Name of submitting organisation
[insert organisation name]
Completed by:
[insert author’s name if different from group manager]
Completed & submitted to
validation body on:
[insert dd/mm/yyyy]
Email contact:
[insert email address]
See also ‘Other Small Projects Data’ (tab 4) in the Small Woods Spreadsheet
NOTE: 1. When completing each section of this document please refer to the requirements set out
in the relevant section of the Woodland Carbon Code and online guidance. Boxes for text can be
expanded if not large enough.
3. The Project Design Document, map(s) of the site(s) and carbon calculations will be made
available in the UK Woodland Carbon Registry once you are validated.
4. At the end of each section, a table allows you to indicate which Additional Evidence you will make
available to the certification body.
5. The Group Manager should keep a copy of the PDD and all additional evidence for the duration
of the project.
For info: Updates to Small-Group PDD template: Summary – Completed by FC
Version
Date
Amendment
Author
No
0.1
07 July 2015 Draft Pilot Version
Vicky West
0.2
26 Aug 2015 Draft Pilot Version – post Exec Board
Vicky West
0.3
10 Sep 2015 Draft Pilot Version – post Advisory board
Vicky West
For Projects: Version Control of completed Group PDD’s:
Version No
Date
Amendment
1
Author
WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3
10.09.2015
Contents
Project Descriptions – To appear in UK Woodland Carbon Registry. ........................................... 3
1. Eligibility ...................................................................................................................................... 4
1.0 Commitment
1.1 Project-group Start Date and Duration
1.2 Eligible Activities
1.3 Eligible Land
1.4 Compliance with the law
1.5 Additionality
View online guidance ........... 4
View online guidance .......... 5
View online guidance .......... 6
View online guidance ........... 7
View online guidance .......... 7
View online guidance ........... 8
2. Governance .................................................................................................................................. 9
2.1 Registry
2.2 Project-Group Design
2.3 Management Plan and Capacity
2.4 Management of risks and permanence
2.5 Management of Group Schemes
2.6 Monitoring
2.7 Carbon Statements and Reporting
2.8 Woodland Carbon Code Trademark
View online guidance .......... 9
View online guidance........... 9
View online guidance ......... 10
View online guidance ........ 11
View online guidance ......... 11
View online guidance ........ 12
View online guidance ........ 13
View online guidance ........ 13
3. Carbon Sequestration................................................................................................................ 13
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
Units .......................................................................................................................................... 13
Carbon baseline
View online guidance .......... 13
Carbon Leakage
View online guidance .......... 13
Project-group carbon sequestration
View online guidance.......... 14
Net carbon sequestration
View online guidance ........ 15
4. Environmental quality
View online guidance ............................. 16
5. Social Responsibility
View online guidance ............................. 17
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WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3
10.09.2015
Small group Project Descriptions – To appear in UK Woodland Carbon
Registry.
Please provide a succinct summary of your small-project group: Aims & objectives, type of
woodlands & management, social and environmental benefits.
All statements made in this document are correct to the best of my knowledge.
disagree [Delete as applicable]
3
I agree/I
WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3
10.09.2015
1. Eligibility
1.0 Commitment
View online guidance
1) Are there contract(s)/a group agreement with or statement(s) from the
landowner(s) which demonstrate(s) their commitment to:
 Conform to the WCC standard
 Permanent land-use change
 Manage land as per current Management Plan for the establishment period
and as per longer-term management intentions for the project duration and
beyond
 Comply with the law
 Restock where projects involve harvesting
 Replant or undertake compensatory planting if an area is lost due to wind,
fire, pests, disease or development
 Inform future landowners of the commitment to the Woodland Carbon Code
and any carbon contracts
 Make true and accurate carbon statements about the project
 Abide by the WCC logo rules of use
Yes/ No [Delete as applicable]
2) Do you, as the small-group manager commit to:
 Conform to this standard
 Comply with the law
 Ensure the project/group, any PIU listings, sales to carbon buyers, retirement
for use of verified Woodland Carbon Units is accurately represented in the UK
Woodland Carbon Registry
 Make true and accurate carbon statements about the project
 Make carbon buyers aware of the WCC guidance on carbon claims and include
in contracts with buyers
 Abide by the WCC logo rules of use and make carbon buyers and landowners
aware of the WCC logo rules of use
Yes/ No [Delete as applicable]
3a) Do you, as the small-Group Manager commit to monitor and maintain verification
for the project duration as per WCC guidance? Yes/ No [Delete as applicable]
3b) if the small-Group Manager does not commit, is there a contract with the
landowner(s) to monitor and maintain verification for the project duration as per WCC
guidance? Yes/ No [Delete as applicable]
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You shall provide the following additional evidence of a sample of projects to confirm
the commitment of the landowner:
Check at least one Project Names / Further details
box
Contract with landowner
contains terms set out
Yes/ No
above
Signed statement from
landowner contains terms
Yes/ No
set out above
Specify what
Project Names / Further details
Other evidence
1.1 Project-group Start Date and Duration
View online guidance
For each project, please specify the start and end dates of planting and the project duration
in the Small Projects Spreadsheet.
1) Please indicate the small-project group start date and duration.
Group Start Date
dd-mmm-yyyy
Project Duration
Years
You shall provide the following additional evidence for a sample of projects to
confirm start date:
Check one or specify
WCC Unique Project ID or project
What
other evidence
names / Further details
Grant scheme contract
Yes/ No
Carbon contract
Yes/ No
Specify what evidence
Other evidence
5
Project Names / Further details
WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3
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1.2 Eligible Activities
View online guidance
1) To the best of my knowledge the land to be planted in all constituent projects has
not been wooded in the last 25 years. I agree/ I disagree [Delete as applicable]
You shall provide the following additional evidence for a sample of projects to show
the land has not been wooded for 25 years:
Check at least one for
What
each constituent
Project Names / Further details
project
Land use records
Yes/ No
OS Maps
Yes/ No
Historical Maps
Yes/ No
Images (satellite/aerial
photography)
FC planting and felling
database
Signed attestation from
independent expert
Yes/ No
Yes/ No
Yes/ No
2) The soil at the constituent project sites is not organic (More than 50cm organic
(peat) layer) I agree/I disagree [Delete as applicable]
You shall provide the following additional evidence for a sample of projects to show
the soil is not organic:
Check one or specify
What
Project Name / Further details
other evidence
Field survey (please state
what survey work has been
Yes/ No
undertaken and by whom)
Soil Maps
Yes/ No
Independent statement on
soil type
Yes/ No
Specify what
evidence
Other evidence
6
Project Name
WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3
1.3 Eligible Land
10.09.2015
View online guidance
For each project, please specify the landowner contact details, freehold/leasehold status and
owners consent (if leased) in the Small Projects Spreadsheet. Please also give the Land
Registry Number and IACS ID.
You shall provide the following additional evidence for a sample of projects to
confirm the owner and, if the land is leased, the owner’s consent:
Check at least one or
To confirm owner:
Project Names / Further Details
specify what other evidence
Solicitor’s letter
Yes/ No
Title deeds
Yes/ No
Land registry
records
Grant contract
signed by owner
To confirm owners
consent if leased:
Certified copy of
lease
Yes/ No
Yes/ No
Check box if leased or
specify what other evidence
Project Names / Further details
Yes/ No
Specify what evidence
Project Names / Further details
Other evidence
1.4 Compliance with the law
View online guidance
1) As far as you are aware, do all the projects in the group comply with all existing
forestry legislation in the UK at the time of completing this document? Yes/No [delete
as applicable]
2) I do not know of any current, past (within the last 5 years) or pending prosecutions
relating to any of the constituent projects. I agree / disagree [delete as applicable]
3) I do not know of any injunctions or notices relating to any of the constituent
projects issued by the Environment Agency/SEPA/Natural Resources Wales or issued
under the Town and Country Planning Regulations. I agree / disagree [delete as
applicable]
4) What systems or procedures are in place for the group manager and the
constituent project managers to be aware of and ensure compliance with existing and
new legislation?
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WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3
1.5 Additionality
10.09.2015
View online guidance
Describe how any carbon sequestered by the group or each constituent project is/or will be
additional to what would have occurred in the absence of the project and the support of
carbon finance. Note: Tests 2-4 Can be carried out at small project-group level provided
similar funding models/arrangements (Test 2 & 3) or similar barriers (Test 4) apply to all
constituent projects. Where one or more constituent projects are significantly different in
these aspects, additionality shall be assessed for each constituent project.
Test 1: Legal
1a) Is there a legal requirement specifying that any of the constituent project
woodlands should be created? Yes/No [delete as applicable]
1b) Does the woodland creation of any the constituent projects compensate for
woodland lost elsewhere? Yes/No [delete as applicable]
Test 2: Reliance on grant aid
2) What proportion of the actual planting and establishment costs up to and
including year 10 are covered by carbon finance? (enter in table below)
Test 3: Carbon Investment
3) Please describe the influence of Carbon Finance on the Internal Rate of Return
(IRR) or Net Present Value (NPV) of the project-group for the duration of the project.
Project-group,
Project Name
TEST 2: % of
Planting and
establishment
costs covered by
carbon finance
TEST 3: Influence of carbon finance on the Internal
Rate of Return (IRR) or Net Present Value (NPV)
Test 4: Barrier (complete if Test 3: Carbon Investment is marginal or not passed):
4) Please describe how barriers have been overcome which would distinguish the
constituent projects or the project group from a business as usual project or projectgroup.
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You shall provide the following additional evidence for a sample of projects to
support Tests 2, 3 and 4:
Check both
Project Names / Further
boxes
details
Test 2: Analysis of income streams
(carbon finance, grant aid and other)
Yes/ No
against actual planting and
establishment costs.
Test 3: A detailed breakdown of
expected costs and revenues for the
Yes/ No
duration of a sample of projects
Specify what
Project Names / Further
evidence, if used details
Test 4: Further evidence to support
barrier test
2. Governance
2.1 Registry
View online guidance
1) Is the small project-group or any constituent project validated or approved by
another carbon standard or has it applied to be? Yes/No [delete as applicable]
2.2 Project-Group Design
View online guidance
For each project, please specify any woodland creation grant name and ID in the Small
Projects Spreadsheet.
1) Describe the key aims and long term objectives of the small project-group.
2) Describe what kind of woodland will be created within the small project-group.
Please provide further detail on the planting mixture and spacing in the Small Projects Spreadsheet
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3) Please describe any physical, climatic, ecological, archaeological, social and
landscape features of the small project-group.
You shall provide the following additional evidence for each constituent project to
clarify the project location and planting plans:
Check boxes as
Project Names / Further details
follows:
Woodland creation grant
If grant applied for:
application
Yes/ No
Boundary map (digital
All projects: Yes/ No
image or shapefile)
Planting map
(digital image or
All projects: Yes/ No
shapefile)
Map showing any
If any designated
designated areas (digital
areas: Yes/ No
image or shapefile)
NOTE: You will be required to upload Maps of woodland boundary and planting areas to the registry
upon validation
2.3 Management Plan and Capacity
View online guidance
For each project, please specify in the Small Projects Spreadsheet where the management
plan and longer-term management intentions are set out.
1) Are all the constituent projects designed and managed in accordance with the UK
Forestry Standard? Yes/No [Delete as applicable]
2) Does each constituent project have a management plan for the establishment
phase of the woodland? Yes/No [delete as applicable]
3) Please outline the longer-term management intentions of small-project group
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WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3
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You shall provide the following additional evidence to confirm management plans for
a sample of projects during the establishment phase:
To confirm
management during
Check at least one box
Project Names / Further details
establishment phase
Management plan
Woodland creation
grant application
Financial analysis of
costs and revenues
Yes/ No
Yes/ No
Yes/ No
Specify what
Project Names / Further details
Other evidence
2.4 Management of risks and permanence
View online guidance
Please complete the small project group risk assessment as set out in the Small Projects
Spreadsheet.
2.5 Management of Group Schemes
View online guidance
1) Do you have a signed small-project Group Agreement which meets the
requirements as specified in the WCC guidance? Yes/No [delete as applicable]
2) Please confirm the project-group structure.
3) What process does the small-project Group Manager have in place for document
control and record-keeping and to ensure internal audit of the constituent projects as
set out in the WCC guidance?
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You shall provide all the following additional evidence to confirm the structure and
processes of the project-group:
Check all Filename / Further details
boxes
(eg cashflow.xls)
Group Agreement which meets the
requirements as set out in WCC group
Yes/ No
scheme guidance
Further details of the Group Manager’s
processes and procedures to ensure all
constituent projects and the project-group are
Yes/ No
managed in accordance with group scheme
requirements
Specify
Filename / Further details
what
Other evidence
2.6 Monitoring
View online guidance
Monitoring changes to carbon stocks
The first monitoring and verification should occur 5 years after the start date (for projects
starting after July 2011) or 5 years after the validation date (for projects starting before July
2011). Subsequent monitoring and verification should occur as a minimum 15 years after
the start date and then every 10 years throughout the project duration.
1) Describe who will be responsible for monitoring the small-projects in the group
2) Is the small-project-group or any constituent project certified or applying for
certification to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard? Yes/No [delete as applicable]
If applicable, for each project, please specify the FSC/PEFC certificate number in the Small
Projects Spreadsheet.
You shall provide the following additional evidence to demonstrate certification to the
UK Woodland Assurance Standard:
Check box
FSC or PEFC certificate for the
group or each constituent
project
Project Name / Further details
Yes/ No
Note: You will be required to upload your FSC/PEFC certificate(s) to the registry upon WCC validation
if you wish to demonstrate dual certification.
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2.7 Carbon Statements and Reporting
10.09.2015
View online guidance
1) Will you ensure that all carbon buyers (existing and future) are aware of the WCC
claims guidance? Yes/No [Delete as applicable]
2) Do any existing statements or claims about the predicted carbon sequestration of
the project (by landowner, project manager/developer or corporate buyer) comply
with Woodland Carbon Code guidance? Yes/No/Not Applicable [Delete as applicable]
2.8 Woodland Carbon Code Trademark
View online guidance
1) Does the group manager agree to ensure that the group and its constituent
projects abide by the WCC logo Rules of Use as set out currently and as may be
updated from time to time by the Forestry Commission? Yes/No [Delete as applicable]
2) Will you ensure that others with an interest in your project-group (e.g corporate
buyers) who may also use this logo are fully aware of the Rules of Use? Yes/No
[Delete as applicable]
3. Carbon Sequestration
3.1 Units
Note: All projections and measurements of carbon sequestration must be expressed in
tCO2e. Positive values represent sequestration, negative values represent emissions.
3.2 Carbon baseline
View online guidance
For small projects, it is assumed that the baseline is ‘no change in carbon stocks over time’.
If there were trees present onsite or it is possible the carbon stock onsite would increase
without this project, then projects should use the standard rather than small projects method.
3.3 Carbon Leakage
View online guidance
For small projects, it is assumed that starting these small-projects is not likely to cause extra
emissions or intensification of landuse elsewhere in the UK. If any small projects are likely
to cause significant emissions outside the project boundary, then the standard, rather than
small-project method should be followed.
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3.4 Project-group carbon sequestration
10.09.2015
View online guidance
Pre-planting
1a) Will any vegetation and /or trees be removed from any constituent project prior to
planting? Yes/No [Delete as applicable]
1b) If Yes, please describe how you estimate the amount of carbon that will be
removed from the relevant site(s).
For each project, please specify the vegetation cover at the start of the project in the Small
Projects Spreadsheet.
Carbon in Biomass, Soil and Emissions from Woodland Management
For small projects, you are required to complete your carbon calculation sheet and the
species mix sheet in the Small Woods Spreadsheet (See Online Guidance). This shall be
uploaded to the registry and made publicly available alongside this PDD upon validation.
2) If necessary, use this space to clarify any details of your calculation
You shall provide the following additional evidence for each constituent project to
confirm carbon sequestration assumptions and calculations.
Check box
Filename / Further details
Carbon calculation spreadsheet with a clear
breakdown of the contribution of each
constituent project
Yes/ No
Specify what
Filename / Further details
Other evidence
NOTE: You will be required to upload finalised Carbon Calculations to the registry upon
validation.
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3.5 Net carbon sequestration
View online guidance
Pending Issuance Units by vintage to be allocated to the small-project group and the
buffer [you can cut and paste this table from the Small Woods Spreadsheet tab 2].
 If you would like to ‘pool’ your carbon across the group, only one table is required.
 If you would like to allocate carbon to individual projects in the group, one table per
project is required.
Verification:
years since
start date
Vintage Start
Date
Vintage End
Date
5
15
25
35
45
55
65
75
85
95
100
Totals
15
Total PIUs
in vintage
to be
listed
PIUs to
Buffer
PIUs to
Project
WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3
4. Environmental quality
10.09.2015
View online guidance
1. Please indicate whether any small project required an Environmental Impact
Assessment.
2a) For the small-project group, please explain how any rare or endangered species
or statutory designations for conservation have been taken into account.
2b) For the small-project group, please describe any impacts of the group’s activities
(including species used) on the local environment. Also show that the design of the
project has given due regard to the visual and cultural value and character of the local
environment
3) Please describe the anticipated environmental benefits of the small-project-group.
You shall provide the following additional evidence to confirm details of the
environmental impact or benefit of a sample of projects:
Check at least one
To Confirm EIA status
Project Names / Further details
box
Environmental Statement from
Yes/ No
EIA
Screening opinion confirming
Yes/ No
EIA not required
Grant application which confirms
Yes/ No
requirement and outcome of EIA
To confirm consideration of
Check box if
Project Names / Further details
designated areas
designated areas
Map showing any designated
Yes/ No
areas (digital image or shapefile)
Specify what
Other evidence
16
Project Names / Further details
WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3
5. Social Responsibility
10.09.2015
View online guidance
1a) Describe how local stakeholders were identified and consulted on the plan and
design for the small-project group, and summarise the results of the consultation
process(es).
1b) Explain how any concerns or issues raised were responded to and describe any
changes made to any project design as a result.
2) Provide a description of the anticipated social benefits and impacts of the smallproject-group.
You shall provide the following additional evidence to confirm the level of
consultation undertaken for a sample of projects and any changes made as a result of
the consultation:
Check at least one
To confirm level and outcome of
box or provide
Project Name / Further details
consultation
other evidence
Grant application which confirms the
Yes/ No
level and outcome of consultation
EIA / Environmental Statement
which confirms level and outcome of
Yes/ No
consultation
Specify what
Other evidence of consultation
process and outcome.
Yes/ No
17
Project Name / Further details