2.1 Commitment of landowners and Project Developers/Group Managers

Requirement

The landowner shall commit to:

  • Conform to this standard
  • Permanent land-use change
  • Manage land as per current Management Plan for the establishment period and as per longer-term management intentions for the project duration and beyond (2.3).
  • Comply with the law (1.4) and conform with official forest policy (Land & líf) (1.5)
  • Restock where projects involve harvesting (2.3)
  • Replant or undertake alternative planting should Forest area be lost to wind, fire, pests, disease, or development (2.3)
  • Inform future landowner(s) of the commitment to the Forest Carbon Code and any carbon contracts (2.3)
  • Monitor and maintain verification for the project duration as per FCC guidance (unless the third-party project developer agrees to take this on (2.5)
  • If there is a loss of Forest carbon, notify the Forest Carbon Code secretariat immediately and submit a Loss Report within six months of discovery (2.3)
  • Ensure the project, any PIU listings, sales to carbon buyers, retirement for use of verified Forest Carbon Units is accurately represented and up to date in the International Carbon Registry (either in their own account or via the project/group manager’s) (2.6)
  • Make true and accurate carbon statements about the project which conform with guidance (2.7)
  • Abide by the FCC logo rules of use

The project developer or group manager shall commit to:

  • Conform to this standard
  • Comply with the law (1.4) and conform with official forest policy (1.5)
  • Monitor and maintain verification for the project duration as per FCC guidance (unless the landowner has agreed to take this on – 2.5)
  • Ensure the project, any PIU listings, sales to carbon buyers, retirement for use of verified Forest Carbon Units is accurately represented and up to date in the International Carbon Registry (2.6)
  • Make true and accurate carbon statements about the project which comply with guidance (2.7)
  • Make carbon buyers aware of the FCC guidance on carbon claims and include them in contracts with buyers (2.7)
  • Abide by the FCC logo rules of use and make carbon buyers and landowners aware of the FCC logo rules of use

Groups shall have a nominated Group Manager and a formal management structure between members.

Groups shall have a Group Agreement which sets out:

  • The name of the group, its size and geographic scope, and any other limitations on membership.
  • The name and contact details of the Group Manager and the arrangements for replacing the Group Manager should this be necessary.
  • The name and contact details of the constituent landowners (and land managers if there are any).
  • Details of the projects covered by the agreement (unique IDs, project names, locations, and areas).
  • Each project’s liability for the group’s carbon rights and commitments (including consideration of whether the carbon is sold collectively or individually).
  • The group’s management structure and any other group rules.
  • If not specified separately, the commitments of each landowner and the group manager as outlined above.
  • Signatures of the Group Manager, all the landowners (and land managers if there are any).
  • The roles and responsibilities of the Group Manager and the group members as set out in online guidance

The Group Manager shall:

  • Maintain a register of members of the group and the individual planting projects covered by the group scheme
  • Ensure the requirements of the contract between the Group Manager and the constituent group members are adhered to
  • Establish and implement a system of document control and record keeping, holding copies of documents as required by the FCC
  • Act as the main point of contact with the FCC Secretariat, the validation/verification body and International Carbon Registry (ICR)
  • Register the projects in the group on the ICR and coordinate the project-group design
  • Lead on project-group validation and ongoing verification including addressing corrective actions for non-conformities
  • Inform group members of relevant developments
  • Deal with complaints relevant to FCC validation/verification
  • Revise the Group Agreement (as necessary) with any changes to the group membership or terms
  • Commit to the other terms for project developers as detailed above

Group members shall:

  • Abide by the Group Agreement
  • Inform successor landowner(s) of their commitment to this group
  • Allow the Group Manager to apply for FCC validation/verification on their behalf
  • Supply information required by the group manager and agree to internal audit by the group manager
  • Take any corrective action required by the group manager to address non-conformities
  • Commit to other terms for landowners as detailed above

 

Means of Validation

  • Signed commitment from the landowner, or contracts between the landowner and project developer to confirm the landowner’s and project developer’s commitment to the standard as detailed above and in the online guidance
  • Group Agreement

Means of Verification

  • Updated commitment from the landowner or updated group agreement if the landowner or any group members (including the manager) have changed

Guidance

This section brings together the commitments of the landowner and project developer/group manager from the relevant sections of the standard. See also Sections 1.4, 1.5, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6 and 2.7.