Verra is currently proceeding with activity data collection, risk mapping, and activity data allocation in the following jurisdictions: the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, and Rondônia in Brazil; Cambodia; Colombia; Kenya; Mai-Ndombe Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Tanzania; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.
Verra also released a request for proposals for activity data collection in the remaining jurisdictions on November 8, 2023.
Verra anticipates that data for all jurisdictions with existing REDD projects will be available by January 1, 2025.
Verra will inform all proponents with projects listed or registered on the Verra Registry once data development for the jurisdiction in which they are located commences.
Jurisdictional Activity Data Availability
The table below sets out the jurisdictions where Verra has begun activity data collection, risk mapping, and activity data allocation to enable the use of this methodology.
| Country | Jurisdiction | Baseline Validity Period | Historical Reference Period | Activity Data Contractor | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | Start | End | |||
| Brazil | Acre State | 2021-01-01 | 2026-12-31 | 2011-01-01 | 2020-12-31 | Agresta |
| Amapá State | 2021-01-01 | 2026-12-31 | 2011-01-01 | 2020-12-31 | Agresta | |
| Amazonas State | 2023-01-01 | 2028-12-31 | 2013-01-01 | 2022-12-31 | CTrees | |
| Mato Grosso State | 2019-01-01 | 2024-12-31 | 2009-01-01 | 2018-12-31 | CTrees | |
| Pará State | 2019-01-01 | 2024-12-31 | 2009-01-01 | 2018-12-31 | CTrees | |
| Rondônia State | 2022-01-01 | 2027-12-31 | 2012-01-01 | 2021-12-31 | CTrees | |
| Cambodia | National | 2022-01-01 | 2027-12-31 | 2012-01-01 | 2021-12-31 | TerraCarbon |
| Colombia | National | 2020-01-01 | 2025-12-31 | 2010-01-01 | 2019-12-31 | CTrees |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Mai Ndombe Province | 2021-01-01 | 2026-12-31 | 2011-01-01 | 2020-12-31 | Agresta |
| Guatemala | National | 2022-01-01 | 2027-12-31 | 2012-01-01 | 2021-12-31 | CTrees |
| Kenya | National | 2022-01-01 | 2027-12-31 | 2012-01-01 | 2021-12-31 | Space Intelligence |
| Peru | Geotree is currently conducting an analysis on behalf of Verra and the Ministry of the Environment of Peru (MINAM) to determine if the activity data, emission factors, and forest reference emissions levels produced by MINAM are aligned with Verra’s requirements. | |||||
| Tanzania | National | 2021-01-01 | 2026-12-31 | 2011-01-01 | 2020-12-31 | Space Intelligence |
| Zambia | National | 2022-01-01 | 2027-12-31 | 2012-01-01 | 2021-12-31 | Arbonaut |
Opportunities to Contribute
Current Opportunities
- Data service providers for activity data collection in the remaining jurisdictions (November 8, 2023)
Verra welcomes supplemental materials for service providers’ consideration. Acceptable primary data products are listed in the table below. See VMD0055 for more detail.
Each submission must include a description of the item, a proposal for its use in developing activity data or the forest cover benchmark map, and a full citation.
Contracted data service providers will review the supplemental information and determine if it meets Verra’s rigorous requirements. In cases where Verra receives multiple sets of data that meet its requirements, and one set constitutes official government data, Verra will use that data.
| Primary Data Product | Submissions from Project Proponents, Governments and Other Engaged Stakeholders | Data Service Provider Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdictional Boundary Definition (Appendix 1 Section A1.2.1) | Proposed definition of jurisdiction and justification | None; final decision is made by Verra |
| Unplanned Deforestation Activity Data (Appendix 1 Section A1.4) | Sample plot observations representative of the jurisdiction, including those developed for national FREL and by other groups that meet the standards described in Appendix 1 for sample plot observations, covering time period and resolution of source imagery. The imagery on which observations were made must be made available to the DSP to the highest degree feasible. Supplementary materials, which may include any combination of: SOP for imagery interpretation; Submissions must include a description of each item and the proposed application of the item within AD generation. | The DSP must evaluate these materials and incorporate them to the highest degree feasible. Any observations that meet requirements must be retained. The DSP may collect additional plots to supplement national data for such purposes as reducing overall uncertainty to meet requirements and improving spatial representation of any areas not covered by national data. |
| Maps of Identified Exclusion Areas (Appendix 1 Section A1.4.1 Step 1) | Maps depicting any of the identified exclusion areas (active commercial plantations; intertidal zones; infrequent, large natural disturbances; large-scale infrastructure; permanent bodies of water) | The DSP will review all submissions and provide a response to each submission on whether and how the submission will be incorporated into the analysis plan. Where submissions represent official government data, the DSP should use these data where the data are shown to be of at least comparable fitness for purpose as other available data sources The DSP will review all submissions and provide a response to each submission on whether and how the submission will be incorporated into the analysis plan. Where submissions represent official government data, the DSP should use these data where the data are shown to be of at least comparable fitness for purpose as other available data sources. Except in the case of official government data, the DSP is not obligated to use any or all submissions in dataset generation. The DSP will review all submissions and provide a response to each submission on whether and how the submission will be incorporated into the analysis plan. Where submissions represent official government data, the DSP should use these data where the data are shown to be of at least comparable fitness for purpose as other available data sources. Except in the case of official government data, the DSP is not obligated to use any or all submissions in dataset generation. The DSP will review all submissions, including conducting an accuracy assessment on any FCBMp, and provide a response to each submission on whether and how the submission will be incorporated into the analysis plan. Where submissions represent official government data, the DSP should use these data where the data are shown to be of at least comparable fitness for purpose as other available data sources. Except in the case of official government data, the DSP is not obligated to use any or all submissions in dataset generation. |
| Map of Available Land for Activity Shifting (Appendix 1 Section A2.1) | May include any combination of: Submissions must include a description of each item and the proposed application of the item to generation of the Map of Available Land for Activity Shifting. | The DSP will review all submissions and provide a response to each submission on whether and how the submission will be incorporated into the analysis plan. Where submissions represent official government data, the DSP should use these data where the data are shown to be of at least comparable fitness for purpose as other available data sources. Except in the case of official government data, the DSP is not obligated to use any or all submissions in dataset generation. |
| Forest Cover Benchmark Map (Appendix 1 Section A1.4.3) | May include any combination of: Submissions must include a description of each item, the proposed application of the item within FCBM generation and citations | The DSP will review all submissions, including conducting an accuracy assessment on any FCBMp, and provide a response to each submission on whether and how the submission will be incorporated into the analysis plan. Where submissions represent official government data, the DSP should use these data where the data are shown to be of at least comparable fitness for purpose as other available data sources. Except in the case of official government data, the DSP is not obligated to use any or all submissions in dataset generation. |
| Risk Map (UDef-AT) | Supplementary materials, including any combination of: Submissions must include a description of each item and the proposed application of the item in risk map generation | The DSP will review all submissions and provide a response to each submission on whether and how the submission will be incorporated into the analysis plan. Where submissions represent official government data, the DSP should use these data where the data are shown to be of at least comparable fitness for purpose as other available data sources. Except in the case of official government data, the DSP is not obligated to use any or all submissions in dataset generation. |
| AD Allocation (UDef-AT) (Appendix 1 Section A1.4.3 Step 3) | None permitted | Conducted by the DSP unless a project proponent in the jurisdiction is the DSP. In that case, allocation will be conducted by Verra. |
Note Regarding Independence from Conflict of Interest
All contracted data service providers must avoid conflict of interest (COI) in undertaking activity data collection and risk mapping.
Entities contracted to provide these services must not have any financial interest in any specific project.
Where a contractor receives data from project proponents, they must analyze the data for comparability with other available data sources. This analysis should include ensuring any data received from project proponents is without bias, meets all relevant accuracy requirements, and is consistent with other data used throughout the jurisdiction. The contractor must submit to Verra a report of the data used, the source, and how the data is free from COI. An independent reviewer shall assess the report. If the independent reviewer or Verra identifies that the contractor has a COI, Verra will immediately terminate the data service provider’s contract.
Roster of Approved Data Service Providers
In 2022 and 2023, Verra approved data service providers to work with jurisdictions and collect deforestation activity data for use with this methodology. Additional service providers will be added to the list as they are selected (see the Current Opportunities section above).
| NAME OF THE FIRM | WEBSITE |
|---|---|
| Agresta | https://agresta.org/ |
| Arbonaut | https://www.arbonaut.com |
| Biometrio.earth | https://www.biometrio.earth |
| Chloris Geospatial Inc. | https://chloris.earth/ |
| CollectiveCrunch | https://www.collectivecrunch.com |
| CTrees | https://ctrees.org/ |
| EP Carbon | https://www.epcarbon.com/ |
| Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) | https://www.frim.gov.my |
| FUNCATE | https://www.funcate.org.br |
| GeoTerraImage and Cirrus | https://geoterraimage.com |
| Geotree | https://www.geotree.com/ |
| IGN-FI | https://www.ignfi.fr |
| MTÜ Solid World DAO | https://www.solid.world/ |
| ONF International | https://www.onfinternational.org/ |
| REGID Carbon | https://regid-carbon.com/ |
| RSS Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH | https://www.remote-sensing-solutions.com/ |
| SarVision | https://www.sarvision.nl/ |
| Satelligence | https://satelligence.com/ |
| Space Intelligence | https://www.space-intelligence.com/ |
| TerraCarbon and Clark University | https://www.terracarbon.com/, |
| terraPulse | https://www.terrapulse.com/ |
| Unique Land Use | https://www.unique-landuse.de |