Active 25 March 2025
14. Agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU)
This new version of VMD0053 provides comprehensive guidance and procedures for process-based biogeochemical model validation, calibration, and parameterization across various methodologies and project activities within the AFOLU sector. It preserves the current procedure while expanding on the current module’s language to accommodate different land management practices, ensuring accurate estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and carbon pools. This tool standardizes guidance, supporting a broader range of high-impact methodologies currently used by the VCS Program.
Please note:
- Projects seeking to complete registration under VMD0053, v2.0 must have requested listing on the Verra Registry before 25 Mar 2025, and complete validation by 25 September 2025.
- New projects and projects listed as ‘under development’ seeking to complete registration under VMD0053, v2.0 must be listed as ‘under validation’ by 25 June 2025.
- Projects validated under VMD0053, v2.0 may continue to use it until their next baseline reassessment or crediting period renewal, whichever is the earliest.
- Verra has issued Corrections and Clarifications for VMD0053 Model Calibration, Validation, and Uncertainty Guidance for the Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.0 (PDF) The tracked changes version of the methodology is available under Development History below. This correction is effective immediately and has been incorporated into VMD0053, v2.1.
Additional Resources
Development History
VMD0053 Model Calibration, Validation, and Uncertainty Guidance for Biogeochemical Modeling for Agricultural Land Management Projects, v2.1
Status: Active since March 25, 2025
Summary of Changes: Minor edits expanding applicability to other ALM methodologies in the VCS Program
Developer(s): Verra. Verra led and authored the module update following an alternative process indicated in the Methodology Development and Review Process (MDRP).
Dates of Public Consultation: N/A
Draft Shared During Public Consultation: N/A
Summary of Public Consultation: N/A
VVB Assessment Report(s): N/A
Announcement(s): Publication Announcement
VMD0053 Model Calibration, Validation, and Uncertainty Guidance for the Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.0 (PDF)
Status: Active from May 30, 2023 to March 24, 2025
Grace Period:
- Projects seeking to complete registration under VMD0053, v2.0 must have requested listing on the Verra Registry before 25 Mar 2025, and complete validation by 25 September 2025.
- New projects and projects listed as ‘under development’ seeking to complete registration under VMD0053, v2.0 must be listed as ‘under validation’ by 25 June 2025.
- Projects validated under VMD0053, v2.0 may continue to use it until their next baseline reassessment or crediting period renewal, whichever is the earliest.
Summary of Changes: Several revisions were made, including:
- Additional guidance on procedures related to different steps of model validation.
- Clarifications on the role of and process for assessment by the independent modeling expert (IME).
- New guidance on minimum qualifications and process to be listed as an IME.
- General improvements, errata and clarifications.
Developer: The revisions were coordinated by Verra in-house experts with technical input from TerraCarbon LLC as well as a range of expert stakeholders.
Dates of Public Consultation: 23 December 2021 to 5 February 2022
Summary of Public Consultation: VMD0053, v2.0 Summary of Public Comments (PDF)
VVB Assessment Report: VM0042 and VMD0053, v2.0 VVB Assessment Report (PDF)
Corrections and Clarifications (Summary): Corrections and clarifications to VMD0053, v2.0 (PDF)
Corrections and clarifications (tracked changes document): Corrections and clarifications to VMD0053, v2.0 – Greenlined (PDF)
VMD0053 Model Calibration, Validation, and Uncertainty Guidance for the Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v1.0 (PDF)
Status: Active from 19 October 2020 to 29 May 2023
Developer: Indigo Ag Inc. (external), TerraCarbon LLC (external)
Dates of Public Consultation: 5 June 2020 to 5 July 2020
Summary of Public Consultation: VM0042 and VMD0053, v1.0 Summary of Public Comments (PDF)
VVB Assessment Report: VM0042 and VMD0053, v1.0 VVB Assessment Report (PDF)