4. Environmental quality

The project shall have woodland design planning documentation which incorporates the environmental aspects of sustainable forest management set out in the UK Forestry Standard and supporting guidelines for climate change, soil, water, biodiversity, landscape and historic landscape. 

These standards shall be maintained throughout the duration of the project.

Projects shall demonstrate whether or not an Environmental Statement/EIA Report is required under the Environmental Impact Assessment Forestry Regulations. They shall provide:

• The Environmental Statement/EIA Report if one was required or
• Other evidence that environmental impacts of the project are likely to be positive if no EIA is required. 

• Environmental quality statements in project design document.
• Design planning documentation.
• Environmental Statement/EIA Report or confirmation that one is not required under EIA regulations.
• Woodland benefits tool.
• Other relevant documentation. 

• Evidence confirming the environmental benefits of the project to date.

Safeguarding / ensuring no harm is done - Environmental Impact Assessment

By adhering to the UK Forestry Standard, projects ensure safeguards are in place so they can show that any environmental impacts on the land area concerned are likely to be positive. 

An Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Statement/EIA Report (where required) will usually cover all issues associated with environmental integrity. 

• Environmental Impact Assessment England
• Environmental Impact Assessment Scotland
• Environmental Impact Assessment Wales
• Environmental Impact Assessment Northern Ireland

If no Environmental Impact Assessment is required due to the scale or nature of the project and site, projects should demonstrate in their project design document:

• Any likely environmental impacts
• Any rare or endangered species in the project area and how these are accounted for in the project design
• Any statutory designations in the project area and how these are accounted for in the project design
• The design has given due regard to the visual, cultural value and character of the local environment

Where a woodland creation grant has been applied for, the information supplied for a grant application will help.

Useful map-based tools in each country can show designated areas or features on or near the project site:

• Land information search England
• Land information search Scotland
• NRW Mapping, Wales
• Northern Ireland map viewers

Monitoring and making statements about the environmental benefit of a project

Project developers use the woodland benefits tool to present the likely water and biodiversity outcomes of their projects. Projects are scored out of five in each area at validation. 

It is optional to monitor environmental benefits over time. 

From version 3.0 the code is piloting the measurement of biodiversity baseline data. Project developers have the option to measure their biodiversity baseline using the methods outlined in the Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland biodiversity project. This may be uploaded to the registry and checked by the validator at validation.

The Woodland Carbon Code does not yet have a methodology to monitor other benefits over time.