Consolidated REDD Methodology

 
Verra is developing a new REDD methodology to ensure the integrity of greenhouse gas accounting for individual projects within a jurisdiction and enable the utilization of the most up-to-date science, data, and technologies. The new methodology uses the same allocation approach as the VCS Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) framework. This approach entails generating information on annual areas deforested (activity data) for an entire jurisdiction and allocating data to projects based on their deforestation risk. When proponents develop project baselines using this jurisdictional-level activity data, the emission reductions within a jurisdiction will be calculated consistently. The allocation approach ensures that standalone REDD projects continue to direct urgently needed finance to forest conservation activities while the development of jurisdictional REDD programs is still underway.

The modules that will serve as the basis of the new REDD methodology were open for public comment from 31 March through 30 May 2022 (see the ‘Modules’ dropdown below for the public consultation documents). In response to feedback received during the public comment period, we changed our original plan – to include each module into each of Verra’s Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation (AUD) methodologies – and will now integrate the modules in a single consolidated REDD methodology. We anticipate the publication of  this methodology in the third quarter of 2023. For detail on its mandatory use and transition of projects currently using other VCS AUDD methodologies (VM0006, VM0007, VM0009, VM0015 and VM0037), please see our announcement from 14 February 2023.

The initial version of this methodology will cover only AUD. Modules that establish similar requirements for forest degradation and planned deforestation will be integrated over time. When this process is complete, the new consolidated REDD methodology will replace all existing VCS REDD methodologies.

The modules that comprise this initial methodology version were developed by a group of experts led by Climate Focus and with Verra’s guidance: Sarah Walker and Kevin Brown (WCS), Tim Pearson (GreenCollar), Lucio Pedroni and Juan Felipe Villegas (CDI), Till Neef (independent consultant), and Simon König (Climate Focus). Additional input was provided by Igino Emmer (Silvestrum) and David Shoch (TerraCarbon).

Verra has identified five states of Brazil (Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, and Rondônia), Cambodia, Colombia, Mai-Ndombe Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe as the first jurisdictions for activity data collection, risk mapping, and activity data allocation. This page will be updated as we identify subsequent jurisdictions for these activities.

Please complete this form (external site) if a jurisdiction you want to see AD allocated in does not appear in the above list.

Technical service providers, project developers, governments, and other entities are encouraged to review and respond to the request for proposals for Development of Jurisdictional Activity Data and Forest Cover Benchmark Maps for VCS Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation Projects (PDF). Proposals must be submitted to Basanta Gautam, Manager, REDD+ Technical Innovation (bgautam@verra.org) by 30 April 2023.

The following is a list of Verra-approved service providers for collecting jurisdictional deforestation activity data for use in VCS REDD projects. Verra accepts and evaluates expressions of interests of potential service providers on a rolling basis and updates this list accordingly.

Methodology for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (PDF)
Module for Estimation of Emissions Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation (AUDef) (PDF)

Verra hosted a webinar on Thursday, 20 April 2023 to provide an overview of the draft methodology.

• View the webinar slides (PDF)
• View the webinar recording (external site)