Scottish Forestry - Stobo Hope woodland carbon code queries: EIR release

Information requested

Does the carbon sequestration calculator for Stobo contain any information in relation to estimated future emissions from harvesting, transportation, processing, manufacturing and subsequent distribution of the timber as a final product?

Is there any requirement for organisations acquiring the harvested timber from Stobo to 'offset' their carbon emissions (such as buying carbon credits) caused by harvesting, transportation, manufacturing and subsequent distribution of the timber as a final product?

Is there a requirement for organisations in the timber industry harvesting and transporting timber from woodland carbon code registered sites in the UK to sawmills in the UK to declare their carbon emissions? Is there a requirement (or at least for some organisations) to 'offset' these emissions (caused by harvesting and transporting timber), such as through acquiring carbon credits?

Is there a requirement for organisations in the timber industry processing timber for future manufactured products from woodland carbon code registered sites in the UK to sawmills in the UK to declare their carbon emissions?

Is there a requirement (or at least for some organisations) to 'offset' these emissions (caused by processing timber for future manufactured products), such as through acquiring carbon credits?

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

You asked

Does the carbon sequestration calculator for Stobo contain any information in relation to estimated future emissions from harvesting, transportation, processing, manufacturing and subsequent distribution of the timber as a final product?

SF Response

The Woodland Carbon Code scope covers emissions and sequestration in new woodland creation projects. It does not account for carbon stored in timber, or the emissions for processing timber once it has left the forest site.

Emissions from harvesting timber are included in the calculation of the long-term average, or ‘clear-fell cap’ where timber is harvested, as this is emission occurs in the woodland. Any emissions due to transport or processing when the timber has left site are not included, and neither is the carbon stored in the timber itself.

You asked

Is there any requirement for organisations acquiring the harvested timber from Stobo to 'offset' their carbon emissions (such as buying carbon credits) caused by harvesting, transportation, manufacturing and subsequent distribution of the timber as a final product?

SF response

From April 2019, all UK quoted companies are required to report on their global energy use in addition to greenhouse gas emissions in their annual Directors’ Report. They are encouraged, but not required, to compensate for those emissions. This is set out in the Environmental Reporting Guidelines published by the UK Government. This applies to any timber harvesting, transport or processing organisation which is a UK quoted company.

It will be several decades until the timber is sold at Stobo, when legislation may have changed.

You asked

Is there a requirement for organisations in the timber industry harvesting and transporting timber from woodland carbon code registered sites in the UK to sawmills in the UK to declare their carbon emissions? Is there a requirement (or at least for some organisations) to 'offset' these emissions (caused by processing timber for future manufactured products), such as through acquiring carbon credits?

SF Response

Only if they are a UK quoted company – see response above.

You Asked

Is there a requirement for organisations in the timber industry processing timber for future manufactured products from woodland carbon code registered sites in the UK to sawmills in the UK to declare their carbon emissions?

SF response

Only if they are a UK quoted company – see response above.

You Asked

Is there a requirement (or at least for some organisations) to 'offset' these emissions (caused by processing timber for future manufactured products), such as through acquiring carbon credits?

SF response

No, but all organisations are encouraged to compensate for their unavoidable emissions in the UK Government’s Environmental Reporting Guidelines.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.