A new methodology to quantify and credit the greenhouse gas benefits of sustainable agricultural land management (SALM) practices has been approved under the VCS Program.
The methodology – VM0017 Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Land Management – was developed by the World Bank’s BioCarbon Fund. It is the first ALM methodology approved for use under VCS.
VM0017 can be used to monitor and measure the GHG benefits of a range of project activities that increase carbon stocks in the agricultural landscape. Project activities may include use of cover crops, improved tillage practices and agroforestry, among other practices. The methodology may be used in a range of agro-ecological zones but is only applicable in cases where the soil organic carbon would remain constant or decrease in the absence of the project.
The methodology was assessed by two validation/verification bodies – DNV and SCS – and given final approval by VCS. All assessment reports and other documents are available on the VM0017 page of the VCS website.
Comments and questions may be sent to: secretariat@v-c-s.org.