WASHINGTON – Nov. 24, 2025 | Verra today released the final unplanned deforestation allocated risk maps for Peru. This enables proponents to request activity data for projects in Peru, a necessary step for registering a REDD project with the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program under VCS methodology VM0048 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, v1.0 and its associated module VMD0055 Estimation of Emission Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation, v1.1. Proponents can use these VMD0055-compliant data to set the baselines for their projects, which are used to calculate the emission reductions achieved by the project.
Previously, final risk maps were released for the Brazilian states of Pará and Mato Grosso. Final data for the Brazilian states of Acre, Amazonas, and Rondônia, and for Cambodia, Guatemala, Colombia, and Mai Ndombe (Democratic Republic of the Congo), are expected to be released by the end of Q1 2026. These data will cover jurisdictions where a large number of REDD projects are expected to register under VM0048 and VMD0055 in the near future.
Updated Timetable
Verra has also updated the timetable on the VMD0055 Jurisdictional Data Table page indicating the availability of provisional and final open-access allocated deforestation risk maps (for due diligence purposes), and final (VMD0055-compliant) risk maps for the remaining listed jurisdictions.
Jurisdictions are grouped in bands by data development status to provide proponents with more differentiated information and greater predictability regarding the availability of data for their jurisdiction. The concurrent reordering of jurisdictions allows Verra to complete data for jurisdictions where there is currently the highest demand for projects using VM0048 and VMD0055.
Countries will move “up” to the next band as the development status of their risk maps changes, and Verra will regularly update the timetable to reflect these changes.
Verra undertook these updates based on inputs from several sources, including survey results about potential project development, a review of listed REDD+ projects and their geographic distribution, and direct communications with stakeholders.
The bands are defined as follows:
- Band 1: VMD0055-compliant data and final open access data available
- Band 2: Provisional data available, with detailed information provided on the availability of VMD0055-compliant data
- Band 3: Provisional data projected to be available within six months, or detailed information about the availability of the data provided
- Band 4: Provisional data projected to be available within 15 months
- Band 5: Data to be developed after data for Band 4 have been completed
- Band 6: Prioritization pending
Next Steps
Verra is currently finalizing selection of pre-approved data service providers (DSPs) that will produce the next round of jurisdictional activity data (AD), forest cover benchmark maps (FCBMs), and allocated deforestation risk maps for additional jurisdictions and for jurisdictions where the baseline validity period (BVP) is expiring in the coming years.
Contact:
Media Inquiries: Erdem Koch | media@verra.org
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Verra is a global leader helping to tackle the world’s most intractable environmental and social challenges. As a mission-driven nonprofit organization, Verra is committed to helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods, and protect natural resources by working with the private and public sectors. We support climate action and sustainable development with standards programs and tools that credibly, transparently, and robustly assess environmental and social impacts and enable funding for sustaining and scaling up projects that verifiably deliver these benefits.