Enhanced Forest Sequestration with Dynamic Baselines using Randomized Control Trials

This proposed new methodology broadly expands the scope of Verra’s Improved Forest Management portfolio to accommodate enhanced sequestration projects. The VCS Standard, v5.0 defines enhanced sequestration as practices that increase carbon sequestration through interventions that accelerate tree growth rates and increase survival. In this draft methodology, enhanced sequestration refers to intentional, targeted interventions that go beyond standard conservation and business-as-usual forestry management practices to actively increase the rate of carbon sequestration. Examples include fungal inoculation at the time of planting, the removal of competing vegetation (e.g., woody vines), and mixed-species planting.

Projects using this methodology will be able to employ a co-located control—an area within the project boundary where no intervention occurs—that serves as a direct baseline for measuring the carbon benefits in the project area where the intervention occurs. The use of co-located baseline and project scenarios is analogous to the design of experimental field trials used in agriculture and ecosystem science. This approach results in high methodological integrity by reducing reliance on modeled baselines, improving causal attribution of climate benefits, and enhancing transparency and verifiability. It represents a major step toward more empirical, data-driven carbon accounting in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector.

The methodology idea note was submitted by Funga (external) and is currently at “Step 4: Public Stakeholder Consultation” of the VCS Methodology Development and Review Process, v4.4 (PDF).

This methodology follows an alternative process as per section 2.1.2 of the MDRP, v4.4. The alternative process includes expedited selection of a Validation / Verification body for the review under Step 5.

Stakeholders interested in collaborating during methodology development or developing projects that this methodology might enable are encouraged to contact methodologies@verra.org. Please include the Methodology Development ID# M0274 in the subject line.