New tool enables robust, verifiable measurement of soil carbon stocks for ALM projects
Expands access and lowers costs compared to traditional soil sampling
Supports scaling of carbon credits and broader ecosystem benefits by 2050
Verra has released a new digital soil mapping (DSM) tool designed to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and integrity of carbon accounting in agricultural land management (ALM) projects. The guidance, published as VT0014 Estimating Organic Carbon Stocks Using Digital Soil Mapping, Version 1.0, sets out methods for developing, calibrating, and validating models to estimate soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks with clear uncertainty measurements.
The tool leverages remote sensing and other advanced technologies, offering a scalable alternative to traditional soil sampling. Compared with manual sampling, digital soil mapping provides broader spatial coverage, higher resolution, and greater cost-effectiveness.
“Because the tool is based on robust, up-to-date science and novel technologies, such as remote sensing, it enables ALM projects to generate high-integrity carbon credits,” Verra said.
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The DSM tool is currently approved under VM0042 Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management and VM0032 Methodology for the Adoption of Sustainable Grasslands. A forthcoming clarifications document will outline how VT0014 applies to current and updated versions of these methodologies.
ALM projects, spanning crop, livestock, and agroforestry systems, could deliver up to 9.6 gigatonnes of annual emission reductions and removals by 2050, if widely adopted. Beyond carbon, these projects can improve soil health, build climate resilience, and strengthen food security by boosting crop yields and long-term productivity.
The tool was developed by Perennial in collaboration with Verra and supported by TerraCarbon, with input from a multidisciplinary group of soil and modeling experts. It also underwent independent expert review to ensure credibility and rigor.
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