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 2 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] 4 WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3 10.09.2015 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 10.09.2015 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? 7 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. 8 WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3 10.09.2015 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 9 WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3 10.09.2015 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 10 WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3 10.09.2015 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? 11 WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3 10.09.2015 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. 12 WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3 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. 13 WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3 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. 14 WCC SMALL Group Project Design Document Version 0.3 10.09.2015 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