The certification of a carbon project by a label is a crucial step in its development. Label requirements must be considered as early as the pre-feasibility phase, with some criteria being eliminatory. The methodology also forms the basis for structuring the project documentation, which will be audited by a validation body and then approved by the label.
This series of articles focuses on the methodology for coastal ecosystem restoration.
Although labels may have specific and varying requirements, the tools and reasoning are generally similar. In this article, we analyze the VM-0033 methodology from VERRA - Methodology for Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration - (one of the most recognized non-profit organization that develops and manages standards for sustainable development).
This first article addresses the qualitative criteria that we integrate into our pre-feasibility studies. Upcoming articles will cover the feasibility aspects of a project, including project boundaries, ex-ante projection (project and baseline), and the monitoring phase with ex-post tracking.
In the pre-feasibility phase, the label requires that three criteria be met for the project to be deemed compatible:
Applicability: the project must be an initiative aimed at restoring coastal ecosystems.
Additionality: restoration would not have occurred without the project’s intervention.
Permanence: the ecological benefits must be long-lasting.
1. Applicability
The Verra methodology outlines the eligibility conditions for wetland restoration projects under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). The key land use-related criteria include:
Land use: If the project area is unused (abandoned for at least two years, unprofitable, or not causing degradation elsewhere), this must be demonstrated. If the area is in use (such as reed harvesting), this activity may be included as long as it is not displaced outside the project.
Leakage risk: If activities in the project area are likely to be displaced elsewhere, causing degradation, the project becomes ineligible.
Project activities: Eligible actions include restoring hydrological conditions, managing sediment, altering salinity, improving water quality, reintroducing native plants, and managing invasive species.
Exclusions: Projects are ineligible if they cause a significant increase in GHG emissions outside the project area, involve the burning of organic soils, or use nitrogen-based fertilizers.
2. Additionality
A project can generate credits if it meets the additionality condition, a prerequisite for its launch. Additionality means that the emissions reductions achieved by the project exceed what would have occurred without it, and that reductions do not shift degradation elsewhere.
The VMD0052 module defines three conditions to be met for additionality:
Regulatory surplus: the project must not be mandated by any law or regulatory framework, in accordance with VCS Standard requirements.
Positive list: unlike other technologies, the positive list for wetland conservation or restoration projects is broad, allowing for easy eligibility.
Demonstrating additionality: the project must prove its additionality during validation and reviews. If this condition is not met during the pre-feasibility phase, the project should not proceed to the feasibility study.
The VM-0033 methodology uses VMD0052 as a substitution method to demonstrate additionality.
3. Permanence
Assessing a project's permanence involves analyzing internal, external, and natural risks over a 100-year period. VERRA offers the "Non-Permanence tool - AFOLU" to assess these risks. This tool is mandatory for all AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use) projects and must be completed during validation and reviews. Apolownia applies these same criteria in its due diligence process to ensure methodological alignment.
The non-permanence tool evaluates three categories of risks:
Internal risks: Project management, financial viability, opportunity costs, longevity.
External risks: Land tenure, stakeholder engagement, political risks.
Natural risks: Historical and forecasted natural risks.
Each category is scored through qualitative and quantitative questions, with a higher score reflecting greater risk. Some criteria may be eliminatory. The methodology considers mitigation plans, with each risk being scored, leading to a total score not exceeding 60. The VERRA buffer (1 point = 1% buffer) is calculated based on this assessment and applied to variations in carbon stock.
ABOUT APOLOWNIA
Apolownia is a mission-driven company committed to making a significant impact in the climate sector.
We support businesses and funds willing to engage in long-term and impactful decarbonization strategies - within and beyond their own value chain - by designing, implementing and monitoring science-based carbon reduction projects that restore natural ecosystems.
Through technology and innovative solutions, we aim at shaping a resilient and environmentally friendly world, by encouraging the decarbonization of the economy and supporting social and environmental initiatives.
You can drive positive change for the climate, biodiversity and local communities.
Contact us to engage or for more information. Find us on www.apolownia.com.
Source :
VM033 – VERRA
Project documentation - VERRA
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