FSC Certification for our Abergavenny forest!

We are delighted to announce that our Abergavenny Sequoia Grove has received its Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.

Our project is firmly outside the box when it comes to typical forestry and carbon projects. We neither fall within the UK’s Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) where credits are provided from newly planted woodlands, or within the typical forestry practice of planting for crop rotations of 50-100 years - Sequoias can live for 3000 years and continue to grow and store carbon throughout their lifetime, with incremental environmental value as they continue to store more carbon each year.

With the help of forestry experts Bronwin & Abbey we set out to demonstrate best forestry practice and standards by applying for the FSC’s certification. We believe achieving FSC certification for our Abergavenny site helps to demonstrate the best practice and standards of our project, and builds confidence in the Sequoia Carbon we are providing to our buyers.

Species protection (Giant Sequoias are on the IUCN Endangered Species Red List) and ultra durable carbon storage (>1000 years) are our purpose and that sets us apart from the market standard certifications and carbon credits.

Moreover verifiers and issuers of carbon credits globally such as Verra and Gold Standard are suffering such a considerable loss of confidence that alignment with their brands and service is of diminishing value - see last week’s recent Guardian article quoting 78% of emission offset projects are ‘likely junk’.

Never has it been so important to be part of the offset process on the ground, to roll one’s sleeves up and plant trees in person, as opposed to buying credits in a far off land at the click of a button.

You can view he FSC 10 Principles HERE on their website.