akar.earthCarbon Standards and Methodologies
Carbon credit standards and methodologies for nature-based projects: Verra, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo, ART TREES and the ICVCM two-tick CCP label.
Carbon standards set the rules, registries and governance for carbon credits, and methodologies set how each activity is measured. For nature-based projects in Indonesia, the main choices are Verra’s VCS, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo and ART TREES, and buyers increasingly ask for the ICVCM CCP label on top.
This hub explains how standards and methodologies fit together, how to choose between them, and the integrity layers that now sit above them.
Standards, methodologies, tools
Three levels are easy to confuse.
| Level | What it is | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Program (standard) | Rules, registry, governance, accreditation of auditors | Verra VCS, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo, ART TREES |
| Methodology | How to quantify one activity type | VM0047 (ARR), VM0048 (REDD), VM0033 (tidal wetlands), VM0042 (agricultural land) |
| Tool / module | Reusable calculations used inside methodologies | AFOLU non-permanence risk tool, VT0001 additionality, CDM AR-Tool14 |
Most projects use one program, one methodology and several tools. Co-benefit standards such as CCB or SD VISta can be added to show community and biodiversity outcomes.
The main programs for Indonesia
Verra VCS. The largest voluntary program and the source of most Indonesian nature-based credits. It covers ARR, REDD+, IFM, wetlands and agriculture. See Verra VCS program explained and VCS registration step by step.
Gold Standard. Emphasises sustainable development outcomes and has its own A/R requirements and a soil organic carbon framework. See Gold Standard for land-use projects.
Plan Vivo. Built for community and smallholder projects, with strong requirements on governance, safeguards and local participation. It runs PV Climate for carbon and PV Nature for biodiversity units. See Plan Vivo.
ART TREES. A jurisdictional REDD+ standard for governments. It issues serialised 1 tCO2e credits, and FCPF/ISFL credits can move into the ART registry from the World Bank’s CATS registry. ART released TREES 3.0 on 25 June 2026. See ART TREES.
Others, such as ACR, Climate Action Reserve, BioCarbon, Cercarbono, GCC and Isometric, appear less often in Indonesian land projects but have pages below.
Methodologies by project type
| Project type | Main methodology | Key page |
|---|---|---|
| ARR | Verra VM0047 v1.1 (effective for all projects since 14 May 2025) | VM0047 |
| REDD+ | Verra VM0048 (legacy VM0007) | VM0048 |
| Improved forest management | VM0010, VM0045 | VM0045 |
| Mangroves and seagrass | VM0033 | VM0033 |
| Agricultural land and agroforestry | VM0042 | VM0042 |
| Small-scale ARR (legacy) | CDM AR-AMS0007 | AR-AMS0007 |
Integrity layers above the standards
ICVCM Core Carbon Principles. The Integrity Council assesses both programs and methodologies. A credit carries the CCP label only with “two ticks”: a CCP-Approved methodology used under a CCP-Eligible program. A good methodology under an unapproved program, or the reverse, does not qualify. See the CCP label: two-tick assessment and the Core Carbon Principles.
Ratings. Rating agencies score individual projects. BeZero has rated 11 ex-post Indonesian projects, averaging ‘A’ against ‘B’ as the most common nature-based rating elsewhere. Prices rise about 40% per rating band. See carbon credit rating agencies.
Buyer claims. VCMI’s Claims Code and SBTi FLAG guidance shape how companies can use credits. See VCMI Claims Code.
A mental model: the six integrity questions
Every standard, in its own words, tests the same things:
- Additionality. Would it have happened anyway? See additionality.
- Baseline. What is the realistic counterfactual?
- Quantification. Are measurements and models conservative and verifiable?
- Permanence. What happens if carbon is lost? See permanence, reversals and buffer pools.
- Leakage. Does the project push emissions elsewhere?
- Safeguards. Are communities and ecosystems protected, and do they benefit?
If you can answer these well, switching standards is mostly paperwork. If you cannot, no standard will save the project.
Choosing a standard
| If your project is… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Large ARR or REDD+ seeking broad buyer reach | Verra VCS, with CCB for co-benefits |
| Community or smallholder-led, modest scale | Plan Vivo |
| Focused on sustainable development claims | Gold Standard |
| A government programme at province level | ART TREES or Verra JNR |
Verra vs Gold Standard and Verra vs Plan Vivo compare the options in detail.
Standards and the Indonesian market
Most Indonesian credits issued to date came from Verra-registered REDD+ projects. That is shifting. ARR and agroforestry projects are growing as buyers seek removals, and community-centred standards fit Permenhut 6/2026’s emphasis on social forestry and customary forest participation. Jurisdictional programmes link provincial governments to ART TREES or Verra JNR.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a standard for its brand. The right standard depends on project type, scale and buyers, not on reputation alone.
- Ignoring methodology versions. Methodologies are revised. Check the current version and transition rules before you design.
- Assuming a CCP label. A credit needs both an approved methodology and an eligible program; one tick is not enough.
- Treating co-benefit labels as optional extras. For community-heavy projects, CCB or similar labels often decide which buyers will engage.
Domestic rules still apply
An international standard does not replace Indonesian law. Projects must fit Perpres 110/2025 and, for forestry, Permenhut 6/2026. Units traded on the domestic exchange must be recorded in SRUK. See the Indonesian regulation hub.
From design to issuance
The project design document sets out how the project meets the standard and methodology. A validation and verification body checks it, then verifies each monitoring report. PDD structure and pitfalls and monitoring reports explain what auditors look for. Our PDD and project documentation service prepares these documents, and validation and verification support helps you through audits. Every standards page is listed below.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a carbon standard and a methodology?
A standard (or program) sets the overall rules, registry and governance, such as Verra's VCS or Gold Standard. A methodology sets how a specific activity is quantified, such as VM0047 for tree planting or VM0048 for REDD+.
Which carbon standard is most used in Indonesia?
Most Indonesian nature-based credits issued so far were under Verra's VCS, mainly REDD+. Gold Standard, Plan Vivo and ART TREES are the main alternatives depending on project type and scale.
What is the ICVCM CCP label?
The Core Carbon Principles label from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market. A credit qualifies only with two ticks: it must use a CCP-Approved methodology under a CCP-Eligible program.
How do I choose a standard for my project?
Start from project type, scale, buyer expectations and community model. Large ARR or REDD+ projects usually go to Verra; community-led smallholder projects often suit Plan Vivo; jurisdictional programmes use ART TREES or Verra JNR.
Comparisons
- Verra vs Gold Standard for Land Projects
Verra vs Gold Standard for land projects in Indonesia: scope, methodologies, SDG rules, buyer perception and when each program fits ARR or REDD+.
- Verra vs Plan Vivo for Community Projects
Verra vs Plan Vivo for community projects in Indonesia: governance, benefit-sharing, methodology, scale and which suits social forestry or smallholder groups.
Glossary
- Additionality: Definition
What is additionality? A plain definition for forest carbon, how standards test it, and why it decides whether Indonesian credits are credible.
- Baseline scenario: Definition
What is a baseline scenario in carbon projects? How baselines are set for ARR and REDD+, why they decide credit volumes, and Indonesian pitfalls.
- Buffer pool: Definition
What is a buffer pool in carbon markets? How withheld credits insure against reversals, how contributions are set, and what it means for Indonesian projects.
- CCB: Definition
What is CCB? The Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards for land-based carbon projects, what the label means and when Indonesian projects use it.
- CCP: Definition
What are the CCPs (Core Carbon Principles)? The ICVCM's ten integrity principles for high-quality carbon credits, and what they mean for forest projects.
- CCP label: Definition
What is the CCP label? How carbon credits earn the ICVCM 'two ticks', what it signals to buyers, and what Indonesian projects need to qualify.
- Crediting period: Definition
What is a crediting period? How long carbon projects can earn credits, how renewal and baseline reassessment work, and what Indonesian projects should plan for.
- ICVCM: Definition
What is the ICVCM? The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market, which sets the Core Carbon Principles and grants the CCP label to credits.
- Leakage: Definition
What is leakage in carbon projects? Activity-shifting and market leakage explained, how standards deduct it, and how it shows up in Indonesian projects.
- Monitoring period: Definition
What is a monitoring period in carbon projects? The span of time a monitoring report covers before verification and credit issuance, explained.
- Non-permanence risk: Definition
What is non-permanence risk? How carbon projects score the chance of losing stored carbon, how it sets buffer contributions, and key Indonesian factors.
- Overcrediting: Definition
What is overcrediting? When carbon projects issue more credits than real climate impact, the main causes in REDD+ and ARR, and how to avoid it.
- Permanence: Definition
What is permanence in carbon credits? Why stored forest carbon can be lost, how buffer pools and monitoring manage reversal risk, and Indonesian risks.
- Project scenario: Definition
What is a project scenario in carbon accounting? How project emissions and removals are monitored and compared with the baseline to calculate credits.
- Project start date: Definition
What is a project start date in carbon standards? How it is defined for ARR and REDD+, why validation deadlines depend on it, and common evidence gaps.
- Rating agency: Definition
What is a carbon credit rating agency? How independent raters grade project quality, how ratings affect price, and what Indonesian ratings show.
- Reversal: Definition
What is a reversal in carbon credits? Avoidable and unavoidable reversals, how buffer pools compensate, and the main reversal risks in Indonesian forests.
- Validation: Definition
What is validation in carbon projects? How an independent auditor checks the project design before registration, what it covers, and tips for Indonesia.
- VCMI: Definition
What is VCMI? The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative and its Claims Code, which guides how companies credibly claim the use of carbon credits.
- Verification: Definition
What is verification in carbon markets? How an independent auditor checks monitored results before credits are issued, and what Indonesian projects need.
- VVB: Definition
What is a VVB (validation and verification body)? Who accredits carbon auditors, what they check, and how Indonesian projects should choose and prepare for one.
Services
- PDD and Project Documentation Development
PDD and project documentation development for Verra, Gold Standard and Plan Vivo projects in Indonesia, written to survive validation body review.
- Validation and Verification Support
Validation and verification support for land-sector carbon projects: audit readiness, VVB coordination, finding responses and data packages.
Standards & methodologies
- Additionality in Forest Carbon: Tests and Evidence
Additionality in carbon credits explained: regulatory surplus, investment, barrier, common practice and benchmark tests, and the evidence Indonesia needs.
- AFOLU Non-Permanence Risk Tool and Buffer Contributions
The Verra AFOLU non-permanence risk tool explained: how internal, external and natural risks set a project's buffer contribution, with Indonesian risk factors.
- American Carbon Registry (ACR) Overview
American Carbon Registry explained: ACR's program, forest methodologies, compliance role, CCP status and relevance for Indonesian and Asian land projects.
- CDM AR-ACM0003 Large-Scale Afforestation and Reforestation
AR-ACM0003 explained: the CDM large-scale afforestation and reforestation methodology, its tools, its status under Verra, and what replaced it for ARR projects.
- CDM AR-AMS0007 Small-Scale Afforestation and Reforestation
AR-AMS0007 explained: the CDM small-scale afforestation and reforestation methodology, its simplified rules, its replacement by VM0047 and smallholder lessons.
- CDM AR-Tool14: Estimating Carbon Stocks in Trees and Shrubs
AR-Tool14 explained: the CDM tool for estimating carbon in trees and shrubs, its measurement and modelling options, uncertainty rules and use in Indonesian ARR.
- CDM AR-Tool16: Soil Organic Carbon Change
AR-Tool16 soil carbon explained: how the CDM tool estimates soil organic carbon gains in A/R projects from IPCC defaults, its limits, and use in Indonesia.
- ART Registry and Serialised TREES Credits
The ART registry explained: how serialised TREES credits are issued, moved and retired, profile types, FCPF and ISFL reissuance, and Indonesia's options.
- ART TREES: Jurisdictional REDD+ Standard
ART TREES explained: the jurisdictional REDD+ standard, TREES 3.0, the ART Registry, FCPF transition and what it means for Indonesian provinces.
- ART TREES HFLD Crediting for High-Forest, Low-Deforestation Jurisdictions
HFLD crediting under ART TREES explained: how high-forest, low-deforestation jurisdictions earn credits, ICVCM remedial actions and Indonesian relevance.
- Baseline Setting for Nature-Based Carbon Projects
Carbon project baseline explained: static, dynamic and jurisdictional baselines for ARR, REDD+, IFM and blue carbon, with Indonesian data and pitfalls.
- BioCarbon Standard (BCR) Overview
BioCarbon Standard BCR explained: what the program certifies, land-use focus, ICVCM position and practical fit for forest carbon projects in Indonesia.
- CCB Gold Level Distinctions Explained
CCB Gold Level explained: the three CCB distinctions for adaptation, community and biodiversity benefits, and how Indonesian projects can earn them.
- Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards
CCB standards explained: how the Climate, Community & Biodiversity label works with VCS, its Gold Level options and how Indonesian projects apply it.
- Cercarbono Standard Overview
Cercarbono explained: what the Latin American carbon certification program covers, how it works, its ICVCM position and whether it fits Indonesian projects.
- Climate Action Reserve: Forest Protocols Overview
Climate Action Reserve forest protocols explained: US and Mexico forest rules, permanence, CCP status and what Indonesian developers can learn from them.
- CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units and Forest Credits
CORSIA eligible units explained: how ICAO approves programs, why host-country authorisation matters, and what it means for Indonesian forest carbon.
- Carbon Credit Rating Agencies and What Ratings Mean
Carbon credit ratings explained: what agencies such as BeZero, Sylvera and Calyx Global assess, how ratings move price, and what Indonesian projects score.
- GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Standard
GHG Protocol land sector and removals standard explained: land-use change, land management and removals accounting, and what it means for Indonesian suppliers.
- Global Carbon Council (GCC) Overview
Global Carbon Council explained: GCC's program, its CCP-Eligible status under GCC 2.0, sector coverage and what it means for Indonesian project developers.
- Gold Standard for the Global Goals: Land-Use Projects
Gold Standard carbon for land use: how GS4GG certifies reforestation, agroforestry and soil carbon, its SDG requirements and what it means in Indonesia.
- Gold Standard A/R Activity Requirements
Gold Standard afforestation requirements explained: land-use rules, safeguards, SDG impacts, buffers and planned credits, with an Indonesian lens.
- Gold Standard Soil Organic Carbon Framework
Gold Standard soil organic carbon framework explained: the methodology, its activity modules, measurement options and fit for Indonesian farms.
- The ICVCM CCP Label: Two-Tick Assessment Explained
CCP label carbon credits explained: how ICVCM's two-tick assessment works, how credits are tagged, and what Indonesian projects need to qualify.
- ICVCM Core Carbon Principles (CCPs)
Core Carbon Principles explained: the ten ICVCM CCPs, how programs and methodologies are assessed, and what the CCP threshold means for Indonesian credits.
- IPCC 2006 Guidelines and 2019 Refinement for AFOLU
IPCC AFOLU guidelines explained: 2006 Volume 4 methods, the 2019 Refinement, Tier 1 to 3 and the Wetlands Supplement for Indonesian peat and mangroves.
- ISO 14064-2 for Project-Level GHG Quantification
ISO 14064-2 explained: the standard for quantifying project GHG reductions and removals, its principles and how it underpins carbon projects in Indonesia.
- ISO 14064-3 Validation and Verification
ISO 14064-3 explained: how validation and verification of GHG statements work, assurance levels, materiality and what Indonesian carbon projects should prepare.
- Isometric Registry and Nature-Based Removals
Isometric carbon registry explained: its removal-only model, the CCP-approved Mangrove Restoration Protocol and what it means for Indonesian blue carbon.
- Verra Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) Framework
Verra's Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) framework explained: the three scenarios, how projects nest in jurisdictions, and what it means for Indonesia.
- Leakage Accounting in Forest Carbon Projects
Leakage in forest carbon explained: activity shifting, market and ecological leakage, how methodologies deduct it, and how to manage it in Indonesian projects.
- Methodology Deviations and Revisions in Carbon Projects
Methodology deviation at Verra explained: deviations vs project description deviations vs methodology revisions, and how to handle each one.
- Carbon Project Monitoring Reports: What Verifiers Check
Carbon monitoring report explained: what goes into a monitoring report, how verification works, and the data issues verifiers flag in Indonesian projects.
- Permanence, Reversals and Buffer Pools
Permanence in carbon credits explained: what reversals are, how Verra, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo and ART use buffers, and Indonesian fire and tenure risks.
- Plan Vivo Standard: PV Climate and PV Nature
Plan Vivo standard explained: PV Climate carbon and PV Nature biodiversity certification, the 60% community revenue rule and fit for Indonesian projects.
- Plan Vivo PV Climate Requirements
PV Climate explained: Plan Vivo's carbon standard for community-led projects, its documents, revenue share rule and fit for Indonesian smallholders.
- Plan Vivo PV Nature Biodiversity Units
PV Nature explained: Plan Vivo's biodiversity standard, how Plan Vivo Biodiversity Certificates are calculated and certified, and the Indonesian angle.
- Project Design Document (PDD) Structure and Pitfalls
The carbon project design document explained: what a PDD contains, how to write it section by section, and the pitfalls VVBs flag in Indonesian projects.
- Puro.earth and Engineered Removals: Relevance for Land Projects
Puro.earth standard explained: how durable removal credits work, biochar and wood-based methods, CCP status and relevance for Indonesian land projects.
- SBTi FLAG Targets for Land-Intensive Companies
SBTi FLAG explained: who must set forest, land and agriculture targets, the no-deforestation commitment, removals rules and Indonesian supply chains.
- SD VISta: Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard
SD VISta explained: Verra's Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard, how it certifies SDG benefits and how Indonesian land projects can use it.
- Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) in Southeast Asia
VVB carbon verification explained: what validation and verification bodies do, how they are approved, how to choose one in Southeast Asia, and what they check.
- VCMI Claims Code of Practice for Buyers
VCMI claims code explained: Silver, Gold and Platinum claims, prerequisites, credit quality rules and what it means for buyers of Indonesian credits.
- VCS Project Registration Process Step by Step
VCS project registration step by step: pipeline listing, public comment, validation, Verra review and first issuance, plus the Indonesian approvals to plan for.
- The Verra AFOLU Pooled Buffer Account
The Verra buffer pool explained: how the AFOLU pooled buffer account covers reversals, how deposits and cancellations work, and what it means in Indonesia.
- Verra Nature Framework for Biodiversity Credits
Verra nature framework explained: how Verra's biodiversity crediting framework works, what it measures and what Indonesian projects should check first.
- Verra VCS Program Explained
Verra VCS program explained for Indonesia: how the Verified Carbon Standard works, current rule versions, project cycle, VCUs and ICVCM status.
- VM0007 REDD+ Methodology Framework and Its Retirement
VM0007 explained: how Verra's modular REDD+ Methodology Framework worked, why it was replaced by VM0048, and what Indonesian REDD+ projects must do now.
- VM0010 Improved Forest Management: Logged to Protected Forest
VM0010 IFM explained: how Verra credits stopping planned logging in a concession, the baseline and leakage rules, and how it fits Indonesian PBPH licences.
- VM0033 Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration
VM0033 explained: how Verra's tidal wetland and seagrass restoration methodology credits mangrove blue carbon, and how it applies in Indonesia.
- VM0036 Rewetting Drained Temperate Peatlands and Tropical Peat Lessons
VM0036 is Verra's peatland rewetting methodology for temperate peat. Learn how it works and which lessons carry over to rewetting tropical peat in Indonesia.
- VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management
VM0042 explained: Verra's improved agricultural land management methodology, active versions v2.1 and v2.2, the v3.0 revision, CCP status and Indonesian fit.
- VM0044 Biochar Utilisation in Soil and Non-Soil Applications
VM0044 biochar explained: how Verra credits carbon stored in biochar, feedstock and permanence rules, and how palm, rice and coconut residues fit in Indonesia.
- VM0045 Improved Forest Management with Dynamic Matched Baselines
VM0045 explained: how Verra's IFM methodology uses matched national forest inventory plots as a dynamic baseline, and whether it can work in Indonesia.
- VM0047 Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation Methodology
VM0047 explained: Verra's ARR methodology, v1.1 dates, area-based and census-based approaches, CCP status and how to apply it to Indonesian projects.
- VM0047 Area-Based Approach and Dynamic Performance Benchmark
VM0047 area-based approach explained: the dynamic performance benchmark, matched control plots, stocking index and plot sampling for Indonesian ARR projects.
- VM0047 Census-Based Approach for Smallholder Plantings
VM0047 census-based approach explained: when it applies, how every tree is measured, and how Indonesian smallholder and agroforestry plantings can use it.
- VM0048 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
VM0048 explained: Verra's consolidated REDD+ methodology, jurisdiction-allocated baselines, how it replaced legacy methods and CCP status in Indonesia.
- VM0048 Jurisdictional Baseline Allocation
VM0048 baseline allocation explained: how Verra sets jurisdictional activity data, builds risk maps and allocates REDD+ baselines to projects in Indonesia.
- VT0001 Additionality Tool for AFOLU Projects
VT0001 additionality explained: the Verra AFOLU tool steps, from land-use alternatives to investment, barrier and common practice tests, with Indonesian cases.