VMD0036 Global Commodity Leakage Module: Effective Area Approach, v1.0

French: Global Commodity Leakage Module: Effective Area Approach, v1.0

This module can be used by Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) programs to quantify a global commodity leakage value that can be applied as a component of the JNR Leakage Tool. The module assesses jurisdictional market leakage associated with the production of agricultural, livestock and forest commodities linked to global markets.

The module quantifies a global commodity leakage value through a step-by-step approach based on the effective area, the area of land required to maintain production levels within the jurisdiction. The effective area is determined by calculating the difference between the baseline amount of production, using historical records of the area on production and commodity yields, and the observed production. The effective area is converted into a global commodity leakage value using conservative default factors which may be decreased where data is available. This approach conservatively assumes that all of the deforestation prevented by the jurisdictional program is subject to global commodity production and does not require jurisdictional proponents to determine the proportion of deforestation driven by the production of each commodity.

Translations of this module are provided. Please note that English is the operating language of the VCS Program, so the English versions and interpretations of VCS modules take precedence over these translations.

This module was developed in collaboration with the JNR leakage working group and approved by the Verra.

A recording of the webinar introducing this module can be found here.