Verra consolidates all ARR methodologies under one roof
Quantum Commodity Intelligence – Carbon standard Verra has announced that it is consolidating all afforestation, reforestation and revegetation (ARR) methodologies under the VM0047 protocol.
Verra has also announced the deactivation of all afforestation modules under the VM0007 REDD+ methodology framework which included VMD0041, VMD0043 and VMD0045.
The US-based standard has been criticised in the past for taking many years to update its REDD+ methodologies.
This was blamed by some for a crisis of confidence in the sector and lower investments in forest carbon schemes, but the registry appears to have quickened the pace of its methodology updates in recent months.
Quantum had earlier reported that the standard was seeking feedback on proposed changes to the afforestation methodology.
Additionally, Verra has published an updated version of VM0007 called VM0007, v1.8 to reflect that the methodology no longer applies to afforestation activities.
Instead, such projects must now use the VM0047 methodology.
As always with new methodology developments, there is a grace period.
New projects and projects listed as "under development" under the VMD0041, VMD0043, and VMD0045 methodologies must be listed as "under validation" by October 4, 2024.
All projects must complete validation or baseline reassessment by October 4, 2025.
Verra released the VM00047 methodology in 2023 which included substantial changes to the earlier AR-ACM0003 and AR-AMS0007 CDM methodologies that were used for VCS projects.
The VM00047 methodology introduced dynamic baselines and a clearer quantification of leakage.
VM00047 uses two approaches.
In the area-based approach, the project area is matched to a set of similar control plots.
The rate of forest cover change in the project and control areas is compared and used to test additionality.
The census-based approach is used for projects where land cover does not extend in a contiguous area of more than one hectare.
Additionality is demonstrated by comparing a project case and alternative baseline scenario.