REDD+ Project Nesting Requirements and Train

Overview

The Chocó JNR FREL has been established by Corporación Autónoma Regional para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Chocó (CODECHOCO) to provide REDD+ projects seeking to generate carbon credits within the department a jurisdictional baseline that will be applied to nested REDD+ projects for the issuance of carbon credits under the Verra Standard.

The application of the Choco JNR FREL provides a risk-based allocated baseline to projects for use for in issuing of carbon credits under VM0048/VMD0055 for reducing deforestation and under VM0006 (or VM0007, VM0015) for reducing degradation. The use of two different methodologies was required due to the current limitations of VMD0055 and VT0007 which only handle deforestation, not degradation.  The Choco JNR FREL Proponents continue to seek to support Verra’s expansion of VMD0055/VT0007 to include both deforestation and degradation but this will take time, so the current approach applies two methodologies which serve to:

  1. Provide projects a path to be able to issue credits from both DF and DG without while new methodologies, modules and tools to be written and approved

  2. Leverage Verra’s existing methodologies, modules and tools that have been ICVCM CCP approved for issuance of the credits from reducing deforestation to have a CCP label

  3. Ensure for projects in Choco department where degradation is significant portion they can issue credits from reducing degradation

  4. Offer the opportunity for all Choco projects to apply a government-supported robust department level risk-based allocation baseline for both deforestation and degradation.

REDD+ Project Proponents in the Choco Department are required to adopt the Choco JNR FREL in accordance with the rules set out JNR Baseline Description, which have been designed to be similar to the requirements that Verra has set out for all avoiding unplanned deforestation projects to transition to the new REDD+ methodology VM0048/VMD0055/VT0007, but have been adapted to also include rules when avoiding unplanned degradation. Figure 13 provides an overview of the transition requirements depending on the status of the REDD+ project at the time the Choco JNR FREL is registered.

A project’s transition to VMD0055, VM0006, VM0007, and/or VM0015 will establish a new baseline for all vintage years included in the Choco JNR FREL baseline validity period.

Transition Pathways - for REDD+ Projects in the Chocó Department

Registered Projects

REDD+ Project Proponents are required to adopt this Choco JNR FREL at the next verification when seeking to issue credits for vintages 2021 and beyond under any of the following Verra REDD+ methodologies/modules:

  • VM0048 and VMD0055

  • VM0006

  • VM0007

  • VM0015

If the next verification does not include vintages that are 2021 or later, the project proponent shall follow the Verra rules for the application of activity data and risk maps for Colombia and the ability to use existing methodologies.

Grace Period for Registered Projects for Adoption of Choco JNR FREL

Projects are allowed for 6 months from the date of the Choco JNR FREL validation to initiate verification applying their current methodology. Initiation of verification must be evidenced by presenting a VVB contract and a completed monitoring report. However, to apply this exception the project must:

  • Complete verification within one year of the start of the public comment period (when applicable, e.g., for joint VCS-CCB verification)

  • Complete verification within one year of the opening meeting with the VVB, or

  • Complete before the end of the six-month grace period,

whichever is the latest date.

Examples for Illustration

Project Example 1

Project Example 1

Project Start: 01 Dec 2014

First Crediting Period: 01 Dec 2014 – 30 Nov 2044

Last Issued Vintages: 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2019

Other Conditions:

  • Project has no Verra exceptions

  • It is not under verification at time that Choco JNR FREL completes validation

  • Verra Colombia activity data has not been finalized

  • The project includes both DF and DG in the original baseline and seeks to include both in the future monitoring periods

  • Project is seeking to verify in the next monitoring period vintages 1 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2025

The project would seek a baseline allocation from the Choco JNR FREL for the years 1 Jan 2021 to 31 Dec 2025 following the processes defined in this BD and made available publicly.

The Monitoring report would apply the projects original validated baseline for year 2020 and the baseline allocated from the Choco JNR FREL to years 2021 to 2025. Both baselines include DF and DG.

Project Example 2

Project Example 2

  • Project Start: 18 Oct 2010

  • First Crediting Period: 18 Oct 2010 – 17 Oct 2040

  • Last Issued Vintages: 16 June 2012 – 31 December 2017

Other Conditions:

  • Project has confirmed it meets the time frame since last verification and has any exception, as needed

  • It is not under verification at time that Choco JNR FREL completes validation

  • It is not under verification at the time the Verra activity data is posted as “Final Data Available”

  • The project includes both DF and DG in the original baseline and seeks to include both in the future monitoring periods

  • Project is seeking to verify in the next monitoring period vintages 1 Jan 2018 to 31 Dec 2022

The project would seek a baseline allocation from the Choco JNR FREL for the years 1 Jan 2021 to 31 Dec 2022 following the processes defined in this BD and made available publicly as defined in Section 4.1.3.

The Monitoring report would apply the 1) projects original validated baseline for years 2018 and 2019, 2) apply the Verra activity data for year 2020 for DF, 3) apply the original baseline for DG for 2020, 4) apply e baseline allocated from the Choco JNR FREL to years 2021 to 2022 for DF and DG

Listed - Under Validation

Proponents requesting pipeline listing with the status “under validation” after the Choco JNR FREL has been validated for six months must use the new REDD methodology.

Grace Period for Registered Projects for Adoption of Choco JNR FREL

Projects that are listed with the status “under validation” before the Choco JNR FREL has been validated for six months may proceed with validation applying their current methodology if the following is met:

  • Project proponents can complete validation of this project within one year of the start of the project’s public comment period or before the end of the six-month grace period (i.e., six-month after the validation of the Choco JNR FREL), whichever is the latest.

  • Such projects will be allowed to verify using their registered baseline if project proponents can complete verification for this project within 18 months of the start of the public comment period or before the end of the six-month grace period, whichever is the latest.

A project’s transition to VMD0055, VM0006, VM0007, and/or VM0015 will establish a new baseline for all vintage years included in the Choco JNR FREL baseline validity period.

Listed - Under Development

Proponents requesting pipeline listing with the status “under development” after the Choco JNR FREL has been validated for six months must use apply the Choco JNR FREL for vintages included in the baseline validity period and issue deforestation credits under VM0048 and degradation credits under VM0006, VM0007, or VM0015. For vintages before the start of baseline validity period consult Verra’s requirements.

New Projects

Projects that are not yet, in any form, listed on the Verra Registry, must the new Verra REDD methodology for DF and these projects are allowed to use VM0006, VM0007, or VM0015 for validation and verification of DG. For projects that have vintages that include 2020 follow the Verra rules for application of the Verra activity data for these vintages for DF. For vintages 2021 and later, follow the application of the Choco JNR baseline as defined in this BD.

Projects Partially in Chocó JNR Area

For projects nesting in the Choco JNR FREL, where a portion of the project area is in the Choco JNR FREL, they shall adopt the following:

  • Where a project overlaps fully with this registered JNR FREL, the project can nest according the Verra requirements the requirements in this BD.

  • Where a project partially overlaps with the boundaries of this Choco JNR FREL:

    • For the project areas that overlap with the Choco JNR FREL they must apply to the overlapping areas all the rules defined in the BD for nesting overlapping areas, and by Verra for the non-overlapping areas.

    • Projects that partially overlap with this Choco JNR FREL must be designed as “multiple project activities” and must refer to the related requirements in the most recent version of the VCS Standard.