Ref | Sub-sector | Option | Rationale | % of Scottish emissions addressed | Timeframe (short-term / long-term application) | Potential delivery mechanisms | Interactions with other sectors and options | Source / references |
|---|
L1 | Expand forest area | Increase forest area | Increase carbon sequestration and supply of timber for bio energy and material substitution | Currently offsets 17.6% of Scottish emissions (117% of LULUCF emissions) | Immediate application but impacts are long-term | Afforestation grant schemes. Regulated market for carbon offsets. Planning regulations | Increased local timber supply for material substitution; fuel supply for bio energy | The Scottish Forestry Strategy 2006, Possible opportunities for future forest development in Scotland: a scoping study (Macaulay Institute, 2006). National Planning Framework for Scotland 2004. |
L2 | Expand forest area | Afforestation of road/rail network | Increase carbon storage on otherwise unproductive land (3024 ha available on current trunk road network, potential area on rail network unknown but will be less). | Currently 0.1% of Scottish woodland cover | Immediate application but impacts are long-term | As L1 | | Transport Scotland report 2007 "Opportunities for offsetting carbon emissions on the Scottish trunk road network." |
L3 | Expand forest area | Afforestation of derelict land | Increase carbon storage | 1.2% of emissions offset by conversion of Settlement land to other uses in 2005 (8% of LULUCF emissions) | Immediate | Grants, agreement to restore land once industrial use has passed | | Scottish Forestry Strategy- provision of community woodlands |
L4 | Expand forest area | Expansion/ mgmt of hedgerows | Increase carbon storage | | | | | |
L5 | Expand forest area | Prevent further deforestation | Reduce carbon emissions and retain existing carbon stores. | 0.2% of Scottish emissions are from deforestation (1.3% of LULUCF emissions) | Immediate impact | As L1 | | Suggested by Mark Broadmeadow, FC. |
L6 | Expand forest area | Expand SRF (5-y rotation) | Reduce emissions through substitution for fossil fuels | Not estimated in current inventory | Short/medium term | Grant schemes. Information on economics, species selection and management. Research/demonstration programme to select most suitable sites/species/management plans. | Energy sector- biomass | http://www.forestry.gov.uk/src; Biomass Action Plan for Scotland. |
L7 | Expand forest area | Expand SRF (15-y rotation) | Increase average carbon storage (compared with SRC) and reduce emissions through substitution for fossil fuels | Not estimated in current inventory | Immediate application but impacts are medium term | Grant schemes. Information on economics, species selection and management. Research/demonstration programme to select most suitable sites/species/management plans. | Energy sector- biomass | Hardcastle et al. (2006). A review of the potential impacts of Short Rotation Forestry. LTS for FC and Defra. Biomass Action Plan for Scotland. Scottish Forestry Strategy. |
L8 | Forest management | Increase forest rotation length | Increase carbon storage | Currently offsets 17.6% of Scottish emissions (117% of LULUCF emissions) | Immediate application but impacts are long-term | Forest management grant schemes. Agreements with timber companies and Forestry Commission. | | The Scottish Forestry Strategy 2006 |
L9 | Forest management | Increase forest productivity | Increase carbon storage | Currently offsets 17.6% of Scottish emissions (117% of LULUCF emissions) | Immediate application but impacts are long-term | Afforestation grant schemes. Research and development into most beneficial strategies. | | The Scottish Forestry Strategy 2006 |
L10 | Forest management | Switch wood products to long life uses | Reduce carbon emissions from reduced transport emissions,. Increase carbon storage in long-lived harvested wood products and hardwood plantations. | HWP offset 0.1% of Scottish emissions in 2005 but predicted to increase to 3.5% offset over next 5 years (0.8% to 22% of LULUCF emissions offset) | Long-term | Grant schemes, information campaigns. Research and development investment. | Transport sector, Public sector | The Scottish Forestry Strategy 2006 |
L11 | Agricultural land use/ management | Convert cropland to grassland | Reduce emissions from land conversion to cropland and reduced cultivation and energy-intensive inputs. Increase soil carbon storage through increased biomass inputs. | 11.4% of emission in 2005 are from Land converted to Cropland (74% of LULUCF emissions) | Short-term | Voluntary agreement schemes- e.g. Rural Stewardship | | Rural Stewardship Scheme, Environmental Stewardship Scheme |
L12 | Agricultural land use/ management | Convert leys to permanent pasture | Reduced emissions through reduced cultivation and energy-intensive inputs | Not estimated in current inventory | Short-term | Voluntary agreement schemes- e.g. Rural Stewardship | | Rural Stewardship Scheme, Environmental Stewardship Scheme |
L13 | Agricultural land use/ management | Prevent conversion to cropland | Reduce carbon emissions/ Maintain existing carbon stocks | | | | | |
L14 | Agricultural land use/ management | Improve cropland management | Increased carbon storage in mineral soils through improved tillage, biosolid management and improved agronomy / rotations and reducing N 2O emissions through improved fertilizer practice | 0.02% from N 2O emissions (agriculture sector). Offset from cropland/grassland management not estimated. | Short-term | Voluntary agreement schemes | Agriculture sector- reducing N2O emissions from N fertilisers | Unpublished paper from Pete Smith, University of Aberdeen (incorporates ideas from many different sources) |
L15 | Agricultural land use/ management | Improve grassland management | Increased carbon storage in mineral soils through improved fertilizer and biosolid management | 0.02% from N 2O emissions (agriculture sector). Offset from cropland/grassland management not estimated. | Short-term | Voluntary agreement schemes | Agriculture sector- reducing N2O emissions from N fertilisers | Unpublished paper from Pete Smith, University of Aberdeen (incorporates ideas from many different sources) |
L16 | Agricultural land use/ management | Reduce lime application | Reduce emissions | 0.2% of emissions in 2005 (1.6% of LULUCF emissions) | Long term | Voluntary agreement schemes- e.g. Rural Stewardship. Regulation. | | |
L17 | Agricultural land use/ management | Manage field margins | Increase carbon storage | | | | | CAP reform proposed guidelines 2008 |
L18 | Management of organic soils | Prohibit horticultural peat extraction | Reduce carbon emissions/ Maintain existing carbon stocks | 0.2% of emissions in 2005 (1.3% of LULUCF emissions) | Immediate | Regulation by statutory body | Energy sector (peat fuel), Agriculture sector (horticulture?) | |
L19 | Management of organic soils | Peatland restoration | Increase carbon storage/ Maintain existing carbon stocks | | | | | |
L20 | Other | Prevent urban expansion | Reduce carbon emissions | 2.9% of emissions in 2005 from conversion to Settlement (18% of LULUCF emissions) | Immediate | Development Plans | Housing, public | National Planning Framework 2004 |