Woodland Water Units

The Woodland Water Code is being developed by a consortium led by Forest Research, funded by Defra’s Forestry Research and Development Programme. 

Woodlands provide many environmental and social benefits. This includes several related to water, such as:

• Improving water quality
• Reducing flood risks
• Cooling streams and rivers

The England Trees Action Plan identified developing a Woodland Water Code as a way to attract private investment in woodlands which deliver water benefits.

The Woodland Carbon Code executive board approved a concept note for integrating the Woodland Water Code with the Woodland Carbon Code in 2023.

The first phase of the Woodland Water Code project:

• Created user-friendly woodland water benefit calculators to quantify:
  - Water quality improvements
  - Flood alleviation 
  - Water shading benefits
• Published guidance and rules for applying the tools
• Developed prioritisation maps showing where woodland creation would have the greatest benefit to water

Phase 2 is running until March 2026. It will focus on working with stakeholders to:

• Deliver a validated version 1 of the Woodland Water Code, including calculators and a standardised methodology
• Align with UK best practice and the BSI standards framework for UK nature markets
• Conduct further piloting of the calculators and associated guidance.

You can find out more about the project on the Forest Research website.