Verra has opened a public consultation on a major revision to VM0032 Methodology for the Adoption of Sustainable Grasslands through Adjustment of Fire and Grazing, v1.0 in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. The revised methodology would be published as VM0032 Sustainable Native Grasslands Management through Adjustment of Fire and Grazing, v2.0. The consultation will run from December 11, 2025, through January 23, 2026.
VM0032 is globally applicable and quantifies the greenhouse gas emission reductions and removals from sustainable practices that sequester carbon in soil and woody biomass and/or avoid emissions from natural fires.
The proposed revision includes the following:
- Enhanced grasslands definition
- Updated applicability conditions and specifications for project boundaries
- Updated additionality requirements
- Introduction of a modeled way of setting a baseline
- Introduction of true-up mechanism for soil organic carbon (SOC) modeling
- Introduction of control sites for SOC and woody biomass measurements
- Updates to leakage and uncertainty sections
- Updates to ensure consistency between VM0032, v2.0 and the proposed major revision to VM0042 for grazing projects implemented on pastures and rangelands, clarifying each methodology’s applicability in terms of agricultural and livestock management, land use, and land cover
- Introduction of differentiation between emission reductions and carbon dioxide removals
Verra is seeking general feedback on the proposed revisions, as well as targeted feedback on whether to keep VM0032 as a standalone methodology or integrate it into VM0042.
Option 1: VM0032 remains active, and Verra would clarify that native grasslands are not eligible under VM0042, v3.0.
Option 2: VM0032 will be inactivated and VM0042 would be revised to include all grassland system types, i.e., all native grasslands management projects that focus on soil organic carbon stock increases would be required to use VM0042.
Verra also welcomes more specific feedback on whether projects using VM0026 (any version) or VM0032, v1.0 should be able to transition to VM0032, v2.0.
Please note that the public consultation on VM0042, v3.0 is expected to start in January 2026.