Minor revision to VM0045 Methodology for Improved Forest Management Using Dynamic Matched Baselines from National Forest Inventories, v1.1

The VM0045 v1.2 methodology for Improved Forest Management using Dynamic Matched Baselines from National Forest Inventories supports a broad range of IFM project activities aimed at avoiding emissions or enhancing carbon sequestration. These include enrichment planting, natural regeneration through management of competing vegetation, stand irrigation and/or fertilization, reducing harvest intensity, extending harvest rotations, designating reserves, and implementing fire risk reduction via fuel load treatments. The methodology uses a dynamic performance benchmark approach based on direct monitoring of carbon stock changes in permanent sample plots. This version of VM0045 is applicable only in the United States.

The revision VM0045 v1.2 will include changes to align with ICVCM Core Carbon Principles (CCP). These revisions clarify project boundary requirements, enhance guidance on testing the significance of carbon pools and emissions sources (Appendix 2), clarifies how projects must present evidence of the mitigation outcomes during monitoring, among other changes.

The revision follows an alternative process, per Section 2.1.2 of the VCS Methodology Development and Review Process, v4.4 (PDF), and is currently at “Step 6: Final Verra Review “. Verra is leading and authoring the revision.

Methodology Development ID #: M0368