FEASIBILITY STUDIES

The first step in assessing the potential of a carbon project associated with degraded habitat improvement is to conduct a feasibility study. Feasibility studies will evaluate the potential of using different carbon methodologies within the project area and for the project to generate issued carbon credits on the Verra Standard.  
 

1. Evaluate the potential for using management-based carbon project methodologies such as VM0032 and VM0042 plus avoided conversion of habitat methodologies such in the context of the new Reserve Management Plan, such as VM0009

2. Assess whether the project design meets applicability conditions of methodologies and additionality requirements of VCS Standard 4.0 

3. Model assessment to determine the potential carbon removals on a per hectare basis that can reasonably be achieved by improved land management practices based on information obtained via a literature review. Using a modeling approach is likely necessary to allow credit issuance soon after the project start date, because rangeland soils typically require 5-10 years to measure significant changes in soil carbon. Soil carbon models take climate data, reported grazing history, and known properties of herbaceous plants in shrub dominated ecosystems (baseline conditions) and of perennial grasses that are likely to recover during the project lifetime (project scenario) to estimate annual removals of greenhouse gases that will result from improved land management practices.