WJA goes wild for biodiversity by backing carbon offset scheme

The Water Jetting Association is tackling climate change on behalf of its members by joining a carbon offset programme run by an organisation dedicated to helping rewild land in the United Kingdom.

The WJA is working with Make It Wild to plant trees in a way that maximises the bio-diversity of the woodland created, encouraging plant, animal and insect wildlife to flourish.

WJA Director Leanne Smith said: “We’ve looked at different ways to offset the carbon our activities generate on behalf of members and considered Make it Wild had the kind of sustainable model we were looking for. It’s a natural next step in making our work as sustainable as possible.”

Rewilding programme

Make it Wild, based in Yorkshire, offers a wide range of ways organisations can support its rewilding programme by off-setting carbon in multiples of 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide generated by the WJA.

The WJA, the member organisation for the UK water jetting industry, has committed to planting a tree for every member it has at the end of each year’s membership renewal period on 31st of March.

For the first year, it meant Make It Wild has planted 180 new trees at its Rowan Tree Farm reserve in Derbyshire. This will offset 660 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2e).

The WJA will receive annual reports on the impact of its contribution to the Make It Wild carbon offset programme, which has already resulted in 70,000 trees being planted at locations in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Norfolk.

Supporting member sustainability

At the time this article was published, the estimated total amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the trees planted was closing in on one billion kilogrammes of CO2e.

Leanne Smith said: “We’ve come a long way at the WJA in making our operations sustainable. For example, we’ve digitised many of our procedures, eliminating the need to used tens of thousands of sheets of paper a year.

“The development of our new WJA app is continuing this process while supporting the sustainability strategies of our members. By making our services more efficient, we can also do more for our members and their operatives.

“Launching this carbon offset scheme adds even more value to the support we provide for members.”

Self-sustaining ecosystems

Make It Wild is a company that is dedicated to increasing biodiversity, a process measured in biodiversity net gain units, as well as off-setting carbon.

It was founded by Christopher and Helen Neave in 2017 after they first bought a 26-acre field in 2010 and turned it into woodland, then wanted to do more to promote biodiversity and tackle global warming.

The woodland created, in partnership with landowners, is not mowed or grazed, allowing the land to return to a self-sustained ecosystem, greatly increasing the richness of wildlife that develops.

Make it Wild hosts events, including woodland walks, conservation days and wildlife talks, and is supported in its work by teams of volunteers.