The Performance Benchmark of Verra’s VM0047 methodology introduces an innovative approach to evaluate Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR) projects. Its main focus is to compare, from satellite images, the growth of the project’s plant biomass with the growth observed in a dynamic baseline.
Unlike fixed baselines, which are defined at a single point in time, the dynamic baseline is constructed from the evolution of plant biomass over time in control zones similar to the project area.
The results of this comparison determine the discounts applied to the project, adjusting the reported removals according to the relative performance between the project and the control zones.
The Performance Benchmark analysis is built using satellite information, both to identify and properly select the control zones and to monitor their evolution over time.
For the selection of control zones, various georeferenced land cover layers are used, such as hydrography, land use and land cover classifications, forest maps and road networks, among other relevant variables to ensure similarity between the control zones and the project.
The monitoring of the evolution of plant biomass is carried out by means of time series of spectral indexes, which allow detecting changes in vegetation cover and vigor. Also, radar sensor-derived indexes, such as the L-band backscatter coefficient in HV polarization, can be used and are especially useful in regions with high cloud cover or dense vegetation. The Performance Benchmark provides robust and transparent tracking of vegetation performance over time.
In ProSustentia we apply this analysis using advanced remote sensing and geospatial processing tools, ensuring that each project has a rigorous assessment of its performance against a dynamic baseline built according to Verra standards. We currently have five projects in which the VM0047 Performance Benchmark was applied and are in validation process. This approach ensures transparent results aligned with international best practices, as currently demanded by the market.
