Using the code

In using the code, project developers and validation/verification bodies shall also take full account of the introduction and glossary.  

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For version references, the latest edition of the referenced document applies.

• Carbon calculator
• Cashflow
• Woodland benefits tool
• Survey protocol
• Year 5 monitoring report
• Year 15+ monitoring report  
• Clarifications to the standard

Each section of the code contains:

Requirement

These are mandatory requirements of the code and are stated as ‘shall’. Woodland carbon projects shall meet all relevant requirements and validation/verification bodies will check and verify that each requirement is being met.

Means of validation/verification

These are examples of objective evidence that project developers may present to validation/verification bodies to demonstrate that requirements are being met. The list is not exclusive or exhaustive. 

Validation/verification bodies will not always need to use all the evidence suggested and may seek verification in other ways. The validation/verification bodies will take account of the size of the project when assessing what evidence is required.

Some sections are not re-checked at verification and do not require further evidence at this stage.

Guidance

Guidance helps the project developer to understand how the requirements should be applied in practice. Guidance could elaborate on a requirement, explain certain terms or phrases or provide examples of appropriate action. 

Where guidance is stated as ‘should’, it indicates a recommendation or best practice that project developers should aim to implement in their projects. 

Where guidance is stated as ‘may’ it indicates an option or a list of options permissible within the standard.

The code also includes: 

References 

Other documents may be referenced within each section of the standard.

Glossary 

The code also includes a glossary which explains terms in bold. Generally, a glossary term is only emboldened on its first occurrence in a particular section.