Sustainability criteria
For advice on the procurement of timber and timber
products, forest certification schemes and other forms of evidence
of sustainability (Category B evidence) see the
Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement (CPET)
documents.
Renewables Obligation (Scotland)
In its recent consultation response, the Scottish Government
states that it will introduce mandatory sustainability criteria for
solid biomass and biogas from April 2011 for all those wishing to
receive Renewable Obligation Certificates.
All generators above 50 KWe will need to report against the
greenhouse gas and land use sustainability criteria from April
2011. Relevant information includes fuel source, country of origin,
sustainability and previous land use.
Renewable Heat Incentive
In order to ensure the sustainability of biomass fuel,
sustainability criteria for the Governments Renewable Heat
Incentive scheme, will dictate that, from April 2014, in order to
be eligible for the RHI, biomass installations will be required to
demonstrate, either through reporting or sourcing from an approved
supplier, that their biomass meets a greenhouse gas lifecycle
emissions limit target. For further information see the Renewable
Heat Incentive .
Forestry and woodland management
Felling license
In Scotland, all woodland owners (indeed anyone who wishes to
fell a tree) must obtain a licence from Forestry Commission
Scotland and comply with the legal and replanting requirements this
entails.
Information about felling
licences is on Forestry Commission Scotland's
website
UK Forestry Standard
Forestry practice in Scotland must adhere to the UK Forestry
Standard. This is currently being revised to
demonstrate further improvements in sustainable practices.
UK Woodland Assurance Standard
UK woodland owners can certify their woodland management
practices against an independent standard, the UK Woodland
Assurance Standard (UKWAS), which is a single common
standard used within forest certification programmes in the UK.
Certification means that you can carry the logo of
international, independent organizations such as the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of
Forest Certification schemes (PEFC).
These organisations set sustainability standards covering
biodiversity and environmental impacts, workers rights, indigenous
people's rights, legal frameworks, monitoring and assessment and
best practice. All contractors and subcontractors must produce an
audit and chain of custody trail for their fuel stock.