Peatlands in tropical countries are a vital carbon sink, representing approximately 12 percent of land area in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, tropical peat forests are often cleared and drained to pave the way for palm oil plantations and other land uses. The process of peatland drainage leads to oxidation of the soil, and loss of soil carbon which can be multiple times that of the carbon loss from the above-ground forest carbon stocks.

Permian Global, Wetlands International, and Silvestrum have revised VCS methodology VM0007 REDD+ Methodology Framework (REDD-MF) to include projects that address deforestation of tropical peat forests and projects aimed at restoring damaged peatlands. The methodology now includes REDD+ activities for avoided conversion and forest rehabilitation on all forest types, including forested peatlands.

This comprehensive revision process sees the development of six new modules for the determination, quantification and monitoring of the baseline carbon stock changes and project emissions associated with peatland conservation and restoration, and ARR activities. Particularly of note is a streamlined procedure for crediting avoided emissions from peat fires, a significant source of baseline emissions.

The new version of VM0007, version 1.5, is available for immediate use.

VCS staff and representatives from Permian Global, Wetlands International, Silvestrum, and Environmental Services, Inc (one of the VVBs who assessed the methodology) will host a webinar providing a comprehensive introduction to the revision of this methodology on 7 April 2015 at 11:00am-12:00pm Eastern Standard Time.

Register for the webinar
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
11:00 AM (U.S. East Coast time)

As always, please address any comments or questions you might have to secretariat@v-c-s.org.