We are grateful to the team at Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, especially Anna Gugan & Professor Piers M. Forster, for their research into the carbon loss at Rotary Wood.
The report confirms our concern that the mitigation being offered does not equate to land being lost with regards to carbon loss.
"If removal were to occur, we recommend, as a minimum, that enough new woodland is planted to achieve carbon parity with the existing woodland by 2038, the date of Harrogate Borough Council’s zero emissions target.
Our calculations show that over five hectares of additional planting with careful management would be needed to achieve parity by 2038.
This is around five times as much new woodland as currently proposed by way of compensation."
