Scotland’s leading forestry business has appointed its first full-time Carbon Manager to advise investors and clients on how to derive green value from their forestry and land assets.
Scottish Woodlands Ltd, headquartered in Edinburgh with offices across all parts of the UK, has appointed Emma Kerr to the new role, in the year that global environmental summit COP26 comes to Glasgow.
David Robertson, the firm’s Investment and Business Development Director, said: "There has been an enormous increase in inquiries about carbon, and how clients can access the carbon market.
"This is an exciting appointment which reflects the growing importance of sustainability and tackling climate change across UK businesses, and how the investor community and our client base can play a part in this. Carbon is increasingly a key driver for investment in forestry, especially in the year COP26 comes to Scotland."
Emma Kerr, who joins from Davidson and Robertson rural surveyors and consultants, is based in Dumfries & Galloway but will operate from a range of locations in Scotland and northern England.
She said: "I am delighted to join a successful and fast-growing business which takes sustainability very seriously.
"I am passionate about the future of natural capital and keen to specialise in this evolving area of land management. I understand that the necessity and opportunity to manage forestry, peatland and land in a sustainable way will be vital to seeking an environmental and economic equilibrium at a local and national level to reach Net Zero targets.
"I look forward to advising a wide range of clients and investors on a variety of environmental issues - not just carbon, but also wider Natural Capital and ecosystem services, such as the interaction of woodland in flood mitigation."
David Robertson said that Emma Kerr would carry out carbon assessments for clients, who were increasingly asking detailed questions about the carbon value of their woodlands.
He explained: "She will focus on carbon assessments and carbon sales and marketing, advise farming and landowning clients about the Woodland Carbon Code, the Peatland Carbon Code and help them to understand the natural capital assets of their land and how to derive the best future value from it.
"Another important aspect will be advising how woodland ownership can be used to ‘inset’ carbon to compensate for emissions within UK based businesses. In connection with this, she will also be helping Scottish Woodlands work towards its own Net Zero goals."
Scottish Woodlands Ltd is 80% owned by its employees and has 200 staff across the UK, with Scottish offices stretching from Castle Douglas and Melrose in the south to Dingwall, Muir of Ord and Fochabers in the North.