Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations agreed 17 global Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. The goals provide a framework for balancing economic growth with responsible management of natural resources, social inclusion and resilience to climate change.

The UK Government is committed to achieving these goals, nationally and internationally. The UK Forestry Standard plays a key role in this effort, setting out the government’s approach to sustainable forest management.

The Woodland Carbon Code helps to create sustainably managed woodlands that deliver verified carbon sequestration. All projects registered under the code must align with the UK Forestry Standard and complete the Woodland Benefits Tool at validation.

Our requirements ensure that Woodland Carbon Code projects deliver a range of environmental, social and economic benefits which contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Below, we explain which goals the code contributes most to and why.

Goal 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. It recognises the role of green infrastructure in promoting physical and mental wellbeing, particularly in urban communities.

The UK Forestry Standard supports this by encouraging the design and management of woodlands that contribute to public wellbeing, improve the visual quality of landscapes and provide opportunities for recreation, community involvement and skills development.

The Woodland Carbon Code contributes to this by promoting woodland creation that enhances air quality, reduces pollution and provides access to nature-rich green spaces. The Woodland Benefits Tool encourages projects to:

• Create accessible woodlands that meet the needs of local communities (Goal 3.4)
• Involve local people and communities in the planning and design of woodlands
• Support community-led use of woodlands for wellbeing and social cohesion
• Help regulate air quality and temperature, especially in urban and peri-urban areas (Goal 3.9)

Projects meeting four or more wellbeing-related criteria in the Woodland Benefits Tool earn a community asset badge. This highlights their contribution to Goal 3.

Goal 6 aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. It highlights the importance of nature-based solutions, such as woodland creation, in delivering sustainable water services.

The UK Forestry Standard contributes to this goal by requiring that new woodland creation is planned and managed in ways that protect water bodies, reduce diffuse pollution, and minimise soil erosion. It emphasises the role of forest design and location in safeguarding aquatic habitats and hydrological systems.

The Woodland Carbon Code supports this approach by promoting sustainably managed woodlands that enhance water quality, reduce flooding and protect aquatic ecosystems. Through the Woodland Benefits Tool, project developers are encouraged to:

• Understand how the woodland can deliver measurable improvements in water quality, reducing chemical and pollutant contamination (Goals 3.9, 6.3, 12.4 and 14.1)
• Consider how new woodlands interact with existing or planned aquatic habitats and how these can be protected and/or encouraged (Goal 6.6)
• Consider how woodlands can be planted and managed to reduce flood risk (Goal 13.1)

Projects that meet four or more of the water-related criteria in the Woodland Benefits Tool earn a freshwater friendly badge. This recognises their contribution to Goal 6. 

Goal 8 aims to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. This includes supporting entrepreneurship, encouraging innovation and developing skills, particularly in rural areas.

The UK Forestry Standard supports this goal by promoting sustainable forest management practices that contribute to economic development, especially in rural communities. Woodlands can provide timber and wood fuel to supply industries such as furniture making, construction and biomass heating. They can also support enterprises and recreational activities, such as hiking, mountain biking and country sports. The UK Forestry Standard encourages the use of woodlands for these purposes, recognising the role of forestry in sustaining local economies and jobs.

Beyond direct economic outputs, woodlands can offer volunteering opportunities and serve as training grounds for developing land-based skills. Woodlands can also act as outdoor classrooms, supporting education, employability and wider community development.

The Woodland Carbon Code encourages project developers to explore how their woodland creation projects can stimulate economic activity. The Woodland Benefits Tool highlights opportunities to:

• Design and manage productive woodlands for timber and non-timber products (Goal 8.4)
• Support local businesses and supply chains
• Support job creation and enterprise growth and diversification (Goal 8.3)
• Create spaces for education, training and volunteering (Goal 8.6)

Projects that meet four or more of the economic-related criteria earn an economic driver badge. This recognises their contribution to Goal 8.

Goal 12 aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. This includes sustainable management and efficient use of resources, and also encourages transparent sustainability reporting.

The UK Forestry Standard supports this by promoting sustainable forest management, including the responsible sourcing of timber, the protection of soils and water, and the efficient use of renewable forest products such as wood fuel.

The Woodland Carbon Code encourages project developers to manage woodlands for both carbon sequestration and resource efficiency (Goal 12.2). This ensures that woodlands deliver multiple benefits, for example, reducing environmental impact, restoring degraded land, and supporting local supply chains. The Woodland Benefits Tool highlights opportunities to:

• Create and manage productive woodlands that support long-term forest resilience and climate adaptation
• Use sustainably sourced timber and wood products to reduce embedded carbon in the construction and energy sectors
• Explore opportunities to support a circular economy by producing renewable resources like wood fuel (Goal 12.5)
• Create resilient woodlands that are productive in a changing climate

The code also encourages companies to transparently report emissions and use of carbon units (Goal 12.6). It supports credible, standards-based sustainability reporting, helping organisations take responsibility for their environmental impact while contributing to long-term climate goals.

Goal 13 aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. This includes mitigation, adaptation and promoting climate resilience.

The UK Forestry Standard contributes to this goal by ensuring that all woodland creation and management supports climate change mitigation and adaptation through appropriate species choice, design and management. This applies to all Woodland Carbon Code projects. By supporting the creation of sustainably managed woodlands, the code contributes directly to the UK’s efforts to reach net zero emissions. The code ensures that:

• Our projects are additional. This means that they would not have been planted without carbon finance
• Carbon sequestration is monitored and independently verified throughout a project’s duration to ensure that carbon units reflect actual carbon dioxide equivalent removed from the atmosphere
• Our standard and projects are aligned with international best practice such as the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s core carbon principles and with the UK Forestry Standard (Goal 13.1)
• We encourage responsible and transparent use and reporting of carbon units, set out by the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative, ISO 14068 and the UK’s Environmental Reporting Guidelines

By promoting long-term woodland stewardship and climate mitigation, the code supports the UK's emissions reduction targets and contributes to Goal 13.

Goal 15 aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Key targets include restoring degraded land and soil, safeguarding biodiversity and mobilising financial resources for sustainable forest management.

UK woodlands support a high proportion of the nation’s biodiversity, providing a valuable habitat for invertebrates, birds, mammals, mosses and lichens. The UK Forestry Standard supports Goal 15 by promoting the use of native species, mixed woodland structures and sustainable land management practices. These should conserve habitats and provide ecological resilience.

Building on the UK Forestry Standard, the Woodland Carbon Code promotes the creation of well-designed, native and wildlife-friendly woodlands. Woodland creation under the code helps restore degraded land, supports responsible land stewardship and contributes to habitat creation and connectivity, linking existing habitats to form wildlife corridors.

The Woodland Carbon Code also provides alternative methods of finance for sustainable woodland creation and forest management (Goal 15.B). All Woodland Carbon Code projects must conform to the UK Forestry Standard, ensuring the protection of soils, habitats, and ecosystem services.

The Woodland Carbon Code Woodland Benefits Tool encourages project developers to:

• Prioritise native tree species and natural regeneration to provide essential habitat for UK biodiversity (Goal 15.2)
• Create or enhance priority habitats that have been identified as needing conservation action (Goal 15.5)
• Design woodlands with a diverse structure and minimal intervention management to benefit wildlife (Goal 15.5)
• Strengthen landscape connectivity for ecological resilience (Goal 15.1)

Projects that meet four or more of the biodiversity-related criteria earn a biodiversity haven badge. This recognises their contribution to Goal 15.