Verra is consolidating the Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) methodologies in its Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. These changes aim to align all ARR projects in the VCS Program with the new approaches in VCS Methodology VM0047 Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation, which was released in 2023.
As part of this consolidation, Verra is inactivating all ARR modules under VM0007 REDD+ Methodology Framework (REDD+MF), which are as follows:
- VMD0041 Estimation of Baseline Carbon Stock Changes and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in ARR Project Activities (BL-ARR), v1.1
- VMD0043 Estimation of Emissions from Displacement of Pre-Project Agricultural Activities (LK-ARR), v1.0
- VMD0045 Methods for Monitoring Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals in ARR Project Activities (M-ARR), v1.1
Accordingly, Verra is publishing VM0007, v1.8 (an updated version of VM0007) to reflect that the methodology no longer applies to ARR activities. Rather, projects must use VM0047 to quantify impacts from ARR activities, pending the following grace periods for the inactivation. The grace periods apply to projects using VMD0041, VMD0043, and VMD0045:
- New projects and projects listed as “under development” must be listed as “under validation” by October 4, 2024.
- All projects must complete validation or baseline reassessment by October 4, 2025.
Following the grace period, ARR projects occurring in peatlands will need to use two methodologies: (1) VM0047 to account for impacts in the aboveground biomass, and (2) an appropriate Wetlands Restoration and Conservation (WRC) methodology to account for all other carbon pools (such as the WRC modules under VM0007). Tidal wetland projects must use VM0033 Methodology for Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration to account for emission reductions and removals from ARR activities, where relevant. Verra is currently working on a revision to VM0033 to ensure that the methodology reflects the most up-to-date science, data, and technology for blue carbon ecosystems and that it is aligned with VM0047.