VM0045 Receives Core Carbon Principles Label from IC-VCM

CONTACT: Nicole Goodman, Director of Communications, media@forestfoundation.org

Today, The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (IC-VCM) recognized the Verra Methodology for Improved Forest Management (IFM) Using Dynamic Matched Baselines (VM0045) with the globally-recognized Core Carbon Principles (CCP) label. This announcement marks VM0045 as the first IFM methodology specifically designed for smallholder carbon projects to meet this criteria, indicating these claims are produced with the highest quality and integrity. Developed by the American Forest Foundation (AFF), The Nature Conservancy, and TerraCarbon, and used in the Family Forest Carbon Program, VM0045 introduced a groundbreaking approach to forest carbon accounting, the dynamic matched baseline, providing robust additionality claims by using observed, real-world data to measure the true impact of project interventions.   

“When we improve the management of family forests, and empower families with the right technical and financial tools to do so, the climate, the planet, rural communities, and our forests all benefit.” said Rita Hite, president and CEO of the American Forest Foundation. “This announcement is yet another step on the journey to ensuring forests, and family forests with improved management in particular, are recognized with scientific integrity, valued, and supported for the incredible natural climate solutions we know they are and can be.” 

With this approval, IC-VCM recognizes select IFM methodologies as rigorous and trusted sources for high-quality carbon credits. This announcement provides the voluntary carbon market with clarity on what constitutes the highest quality standards for forest carbon credits to possess, along with a process for continuous improvement toward higher scientific integrity.   

By measuring the difference between the forests over time, VM0045 uniquely isolates the program as the key intervention that can be credited with creating the carbon benefit. This provides more discernable proof of additionality or evidence that the carbon sequestration and storage would not have occurred absent the project. 

“The American Forest Foundation is committed to producing meaningful climate impact in partnership with America’s family forest owners, leading to the highest-quality carbon credits.” said Christine Cadigan, AFF’s EVP of Carbon Origination. “This announcement is a recognition of the voluntary carbon market’s continued movement toward more transparent quality assessments and greater market integrity, an essential element to the market's ability to support both people and planet.”    

IC-VCM also recognized ACR – Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands (Version 2.1) as meeting the CCP criteria, a methodology which advances the quality of IFM credits for projects based on industrial timberlands. Verra’s Afforestation, Reforestation, Revegetation methodology (VM0047), used in AFF’s Fields & Forests project, is already recognized with the CCP label.  

As the voluntary carbon market continues to make advancements, AFF remains committed to continuous improvement, alongside many partners. In addition to dynamic matched baselines as an incredible advancement, AFF is developing new and innovative approaches to permanence, measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV), and leakage to support more accessible landowner opportunities and further scale high-integrity natural climate solutions. 

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About The American Forest Foundation 

The American Forest Foundation is a national organization that empowers family forest owners to deliver meaningful conservation impact. The organization’s programs, the Family Forest Carbon Program and the American Tree Farm System, help landowners implement forest management practices to care for the health and productivity of their woodlands. To learn more about the American Forest Foundation and the Family Forest Carbon Program, visit www.forestfoundation.org.