Verra has released a revised version (v1.1) of Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Module VMD0055 Estimation of Emission Reductions from Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation. This module describes the procedures and methods used to account for greenhouse gas emission reductions from projects aiming to avoid unplanned deforestation. It must be used alongside VCS Methodology VM0048 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, v1.0.
Verra is releasing this minor revision in advance of the publication of jurisdictional activity data for allocation at the project level. It incorporates recommendations and considerations—including on language clarifications and treatment of timber harvesting activities—from the public consultation period, which ran from August 9 to September 9, 2024.
The updates to VMD0055 also help support the methodology’s high integrity and its alignment with the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) established by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM).
Updates to VMD0055 include the following:
- Clarifying the procedures for baselines for projects transitioning to VMD0055
- Ensuring the full alignment of VMD0055 with VT0007 Unplanned Deforestation Allocation (UDef-A), v1.0, and the process of allocating data to projects laid out in this tool
- Clarifying spatial resolution and mapping requirements, mapping terminology, and the scope of the jurisdictional sampling frame
VMD0055, v1.1 no longer includes requirements for accounting for emissions from timber harvesting activities in the project scenario and is therefore not currently applicable to projects that include these activities. Verra is currently working on a version of VMD0055 that will include provisions for existing projects that implement timber harvesting activities.
Effective Date
All projects using VM0048 and VMD0055 must use VMD0055, v1.1, starting today (October 21, 2024).
For questions about this update, please email forestcarbon@verra.org.