14. Agriculture, Forestry, Land Use
Outcome Label
Eligibility
Reduction and Removal
Active since 27 November 2023
This module describes the procedures and methods for accounting for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from projects that aim to avoid unplanned deforestation. This module must be used along with VM0048 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation.
The module includes the following:
- Procedures for unplanned deforestation activity data collection, construction of forest cover benchmark maps, and application of VT0007 Unplanned Deforestation Allocation Tool (UDef-AT). These activities are carried out by Verra through third-party data service providers or by the jurisdictional proponent where a project is to be nested in a registered Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) Scenario 1 or 2 program.
- Procedures for estimating GHG baseline emissions from carbon stock changes resulting from unplanned deforestation in the project area. To establish carbon stock changes in the baseline, project proponents estimate emission factors and combine these with unplanned deforestation activity data generated by Verra for the unplanned deforestation project area and leakage belt.
- Procedures for estimating the net GHG emissions from the displacement of unplanned deforestation (leakage due to activity shifting) triggered by projects preventing unplanned deforestation. Leakage inside and beyond the area directly around the project (the unplanned deforestation leakage belt) caused by geographically unconstrained agents and by regional demand for wood products is assessed.
- Methods for ex-post monitoring of GHG emissions due to deforestation in the nplanned deforestation project area and leakage belt.
VMD0055 uses the same allocation approach as the VCS JNR framework: information on annual areas deforested (activity data) is generated for an entire jurisdiction and data is allocated 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. When used for non-nested projects, the allocation approach ensures that these projects continue to direct urgently needed finance to forest conservation activities while the development of jurisdictional REDD programs is still underway.
For more information on the background to VM0048 and VMD0055, please see the “Technical Background Note” webpage.
- See the “Transition Process by Project Status” webpage for information on adopting VM0048 and VMD0055
- See the “Activity Data Availability and Risk Mapping” webpage for information on activity data availability
- See the “VM0048 and VMD0055 Frequently Asked Questions” webpage
Development History
VMD0055 Estimation of Emission Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation, v1.0 (PDF)
Status: Active since 27 Nov 2023. Updated 20 Feb 2024 to correct the title of VT0007 and cross-referencing errors.
Mitigation Outcome Label Eligibility: Reduction
Developer: Verra led the development of the module with support from Tim Pearson (Green Collar), Kevin R. Brown (Wildlife Conservation Society), Simon Koenig (Climate Focus), Till Neeff, Sarah M. Walker (Wildlife Conservation Society), and Lucio Pedroni (Carbon Decisions International). Juan Felipe Villegas (Carbon Decisions International), Igino Emmer (Silvestrum), Rebecca Dickson and David Shoch (TerraCarbon), and J. Ronald Eastman and Robert Gilmore Pontius Jr. (Clark Labs), and Manuel Estrada made significant contributions.
Dates of Public Consultation: 31 March 2022 – 30 May 2022
Summary of Public Consultation: VM0048, v1.0 & VMD0055, v1.0 Summary of Public Consultation (PDF)
The following draft modules were combined to form VM0048 and VMD0055. They were published during the public consultation:
- Determination of jurisdictional activity data baseline for unplanned deforestation (J-ADB-UD) (PDF)
- Estimation of baseline greenhouse gas emission within the project area and leakage belt from unplanned deforestation (BL-UD) (PDF)
- Estimation of emissions from activity shifting for avoiding unplanned deforestation (LK-UD-AS) (PDF)
- Methods for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions within the project boundary and leakage belt from unplanned deforestation (MON-AUD) (PDF)
- AUD Methodology Application Guide (PDF)
Verra hosted two webinars related to this public consultation:
- Overview webinar: 30 March 2022 (external site)
- Deep-dive webinar: 31 March 2022 (external site)
VVB Assessment Report: VMD0055, v1.0 VVB Assessment Report (PDF)
VMD0055 Versions Submitted for Assessment:
- Third and Fourth Versions Submitted (October 2023): Estimation of Emission Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation v0.7 (PDF); Module for Estimation of Emission Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation DRAFT, v0.6 (PDF)
- Second Version Submitted (July 2023): Module for Estimation of Emissions Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation (AUDef), DRAFT v0.3 (PDF)
- First Version Submitted (April 2023): Module for Estimation of Emissions Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation (AUDef), DRAFT v0.2 (PDF)
Verra hosted a webinar on Thursday, 20 April 2023 to provide an overview of the draft methodology and module.
- View the webinar slides (PDF)
- View the webinar recording (external site)
Verra hosted a webinar on Tuesday, 19 December 2023 provide an overview of the new REDD methodology and the module for Avoided Unplanned Deforestation activities.
- View the webinar slides (PDF)
- View the webinar recording (external site)