Verra Publishes Coastal Resilience Asset Methodology in SD VISta Program

Verra has published a new asset methodology in its Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta) Program. The Methodology for Coastal Resilience Benefits from Restoration and Protection of Mangroves and Tidal Marshes quantifies reduced damage to property at risk of flooding, in US dollars, due to the restoration or protection of coastal ecosystems.

By linking the impact of nature-based solutions to property value, the methodology offers an innovative approach to embedding climate action into practical investment decisions, providing a clear and tangible use case for buyers of the generated assets.

• For project developers, the methodology provides a clear, robust, and standardized pathway to measure, quantify, and communicate flood risk reduction benefits. In particular, for mangrove and tidal marsh projects, the methodology can be implemented alongside the blue carbon methodologies (VM0007 and VM0033) in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program.
• For buyers, such as insurance companies, the assets offer a strategic opportunity to invest in reducing exposure to climate hazards while advancing community resilience and supporting sustainable development.

Restoring and protecting coastal ecosystems is vital for enabling shoreline communities to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis. Coastal areas are home to a large percentage of the global population, who are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges and flooding due to climate change-induced sea-level rise. The ecosystems in these areas—especially mangroves and tidal marshes—produce powerful natural defenses against storms and rising seas. This new methodology provides a pathway to value those protective benefits, enabling scaling of coastal restoration and protection efforts.

Eligible activities: Eligible project activities under the new asset methodology include the restoration (e.g., reconnecting natural tidal flows or enhancing sediment delivery) and protection (e.g., preventing hydrological disruptions or conservation easements) of mangroves and tidal marshes.

Outputs: This methodology can be used to generate Coastal Resilience Assets and, optionally, claims of People Resilience Benefits.

• Coastal Resilience Assets represent the reduction in damage to property at risk of coastal flooding each year as a result of implementing a project that restores or protects coastal ecosystems, thereby reducing flood depth and extent. Coastal Resilience Assets cannot be used for offsetting purposes.
• Optional claims of People Resilience Benefits represent the annual reduction in the number of people at risk of being impacted by coastal flooding.

Sustainable Development Goals: Projects using this methodology help coastal communities adapt to the impact of climate change while contributing to two of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

This methodology was developed by The Nature Conservancy, The University of California Santa Cruz Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, TerraCarbon, and IH Cantabria, and funded by AXA XL, Builder’s Vision, and University of California Santa Cruz.