New credit project could offset 3,000 tonnes of carbon

Manx Wildlife Trust working with Island based businesses 

More than 3,000 tonnes of carbon could be sequestered over the next 50 years as part of the Isle of Man’s first ever on-Island carbon credit project.

The Manx Wildlife Trust has collaborated with a number of businesses at Crossags Fields.

It’s part of the charity’s Hairpin Woodland Park.

Hansard Global plc, PDMS Ltd and Resilience Management (IOM) Ltd have purchased ‘high integrity carbon credits’ produced by tree planting at the site.

This, in turn, has helped to fund the purchase of the land and its future management.

The income generated by the carbon credits will be used to pay off a low interest ‘green loan’ from Lloyds Bank International which was raised to purchase the land.

The credits at the site – and at Creg y Cowin Nature Reserve – are verified by the Soil Association using the UK Woodland Carbon Code.

MWT Chief Executive Leigh Morris said: "This pilot has been over two years in the making and we have collectively learnt a great deal that we will use to inform the development of a carbon credit project that other businesses and individuals in the Isle of Man can buy-into and directly contribute to our Island Biosphere’s climate change mitigation and biodiversity strategies.

"There is some speculation about carbon offsetting globally but what we are now able to offer the Isle of Man is high integrity carbon credits - real trees, in real fields, that you can even help to plant, and can visit at any time to see them grow and develop."

Graham Makepeace-Warne is the head of engagement:

Manx Wildlife Trust is now looking to establish more carbon credit projects to support Island based businesses and the Island’s ambition to become carbon net-zero by 2050.