A new project is exploring how innovative technologies can enhance the work of the Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code.
Three UK companies are working with the codes as part of the current round of CivTech Challenges, a Scottish Government programme which supports public sector innovation by solving problems and developing products.
The companies are proposing a range of complementary solutions to help the codes. They have received funding to develop prototypes over the next five months and could receive further support to bring their products to market.
The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, an independent research institute headquartered in Oxfordshire, will explore how land-based measurement instruments can be used to increase the accuracy of monitoring data from woodland carbon and peatland restoration sites. All Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code sites must record the amount of carbon dioxide they remove from or stop entering the atmosphere.
Sylvera, a London-based carbon data provider, will also focus on improving monitoring. It plans to use remote sensing technologies trained on high-quality in-situ data to provide enhanced verification of project sites. This innovation aims to increase the frequency and transparency of verification to improve confidence for buyers.
Aviemore-based startup, Rethink Carbon, will develop an online platform to simplify the administration of Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code projects for users of the code. The solution aims to streamline workflows, automate documentation and integrate mapping capabilities and monitoring data.
Dr Vicky West, senior development manager for the Woodland Carbon Code, said, “The Woodland Carbon and Peatland Codes help landowners, organisations and businesses to address climate change by developing and supporting woodland creation and peatland restoration projects across the UK.
“We are excited to be collaborating with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Sylvera and Rethink Carbon. Their innovations have the potential to make our processes and monitoring more accurate, accessible, efficient and cost-effective, enabling more people to develop and support vital climate projects.”
Dr Renée Kerkvliet-Hermans, Peatland Code manager, said, “This is a great opportunity to really improve our processes, both on the administrative side as well as the monitoring and measurement side of our projects. This should make engaging with the Peatland and Woodland Carbon Code a lot easier, enabling more trees to be planted and peatlands to be restored.”
Rethink Carbon’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Caulfield, said, “We’re thrilled to be working with Scottish Forestry, the IUCN Peatland Programme and our fellow innovators to enhance the Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code. Our goal is to simplify processes and help more landowners take meaningful climate action.”