Declared Carbon Capacity of Woodland (model laws definition) meaning

The declared carbon capacity of woodland describes, for an accredited Tree-Planting-Incentive (TPI) site, the maximum amount of carbon the woodland is expected to sequester in a year, based on standardised modelling for that site. In UK practice this is calculated using the Woodland Carbon Code carbon calculation tools (currently the Woodland Carbon Code Calculation Spreadsheet) and is typically expressed as tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) per annum. This is a descriptive scheme and contract term rather than one defined in legislation or case law. It is used in carbon credit and forestry documentation to set annual issuance caps for woodland carbon units, structure monitoring, reporting and verification, inform payment schedules, and allocate risk (for example, underperformance warranties and remedies). Across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, usage aligns with Woodland Carbon Code methodology and accreditation processes. In Ireland, where there is no statutory equivalent to the Woodland Carbon Code, the term is applied by reference to the methodology specified in the relevant scheme or contract (for example, recognised forestry carbon modelling tools), serving the same practical purpose. The figure is site-specific and depends on factors such as species mix, management regime and local conditions.