Trialling measurement of biodiversity baseline

From version 3.0 of the code, we are trialling a methodology for measuring the biodiversity baseline of our woodland creation projects. The trial is open to any projects under development or already validated to the code.

If you choose to take part in this pilot, there is no guarantee that the Woodland Carbon Code will offer an explicit bundle or separate biodiversity units in future. However, you will be able to ask a validator to assess your biodiversity baseline monitoring at your next validation or verification. This may cost extra. 

If you measure the biodiversity baseline of your project, you will be able to show this in the registry. You will also be able to show changes to the biodiversity of your project if you monitor it again in future.

The methodology was developed as part of a project with the Peatland Code. We’re continuing to work on measuring biodiversity uplift during 2025 and 2026.

The initial biodiversity project proposes measuring some taxonomic and some structural indicators. For woodlands, these are:

Taxonomic metrics:

• Plant abundance and biodiversity
• Bird abundance and biodiversity
• Insect abundance and biodiversity
• Lichen and moss abundance and biodiversity (for temperate rainforests)

Structural metric:

• Woodland ecological condition tool or Defra’s biodiversity metric tool for biodiversity net gain (the Defra tool is based on the woodland ecological condition tool)
• Community similarity index (we’re working on this during phase 2 of our biodiversity project)
• Plantlife’s rapid rainforest assessment tool (for temperate rainforests)

Other potential indicators:

• Soil eDNA
• Connectivity

See our biodiversity metrics white paper for more information. 

Your monitoring plan needs to be reviewed by an independent expert. We’ll confirm the process for this soon.

For the taxonomic metrics, SRUC has provided guidance on how to design a site level monitoring scheme and how to record plants, birds and insects.

For the structural metrics, follow the guidance set out above for the woodland ecological condition tool or Defra’s biodiversity metric tool.

Ideally you would first measure the biodiversity of your site before work begins onsite. However, it is possible to start monitoring biodiversity at any point and, in future, show the change from that date.

Get in touch with your validator/verifier to let them know you’d like them to assess your biodiversity baseline when you next validate or verify your project.

You will need to provide your approved biodiversity monitoring plan and monitoring reports.

Once your biodiversity baseline is assessed by one of our validators, you will be able to upload the biodiversity monitoring plan, reports and assessment to the UK Land Carbon Registry and add a tag which shows your projects has measured its biodiversity baseline.

If you’d like to trial monitoring biodiversity at your site, get in touch with the team and we’ll help you through the process. We would love your feedback to help improve the methodology.