CDM AR-AMS0007 Small-Scale Afforestation and Reforestation

Updated 2026-11-02 · 3 min read · By the akar.earth specialist team

AR-AMS0007 explained: the CDM small-scale afforestation and reforestation methodology, its simplified rules, its replacement by VM0047 and smallholder lessons.

AR-AMS0007 is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) simplified methodology for small-scale afforestation and reforestation on land other than wetlands. It gave community and smallholder tree-planting projects a lighter version of the large-scale AR-ACM0003 rules. Verra no longer accepts it for new projects and directs ARR to VM0047.

Small-scale A/R mattered for Southeast Asia because so much tree planting happens on small farms. The lessons from AR-AMS0007 still shape how smallholder projects are designed today.

What made it small-scale

Under CDM rules, a small-scale A/R project had to meet two conditions:

• net anthropogenic greenhouse gas removals below a set annual cap, fixed by CDM decisions; and
• development or implementation by low-income communities and individuals, as defined by the host country.

If verified removals exceeded the cap, the excess could not be credited under the small-scale rules. Check the CDM decision that applied to the project for the exact threshold.

What was simplified

Compared with AR-ACM0003, AR-AMS0007 reduced the burden in several ways:

• Baseline. Simpler assumptions about pre-project carbon stocks, with conservative defaults in some cases.
• Additionality. Small-scale projects could use a simplified demonstration, mainly focused on barriers, rather than a full investment analysis.
• Carbon pools. Fewer pools were required. Projects could focus on trees and shrubs, with others optional or conservatively excluded.
• Leakage. Simplified treatment of displaced agricultural activity.
• Monitoring. Lighter sampling requirements, still using AR-Tool14 for tree carbon.

Exact simplifications varied between versions. Projects must use the version they registered with.

How AR-AMS0007 works step by step

1. Confirm eligibility. Land is non-forest and not wetland. Participants qualify as low-income communities or individuals.
2. Define the boundary. Map each parcel. Many small-scale projects cover hundreds of scattered plots.
3. Show additionality. Document barriers such as lack of finance, seedlings, technical know-how or secure tenure.
4. Estimate baseline carbon using measurements or conservative defaults.
5. Estimate project removals from planted trees using AR-Tool14 with allometric equations or expansion factors.
6. Estimate leakage from displaced crops or grazing.
7. Check the cap. Net removals must stay below the small-scale limit.
8. Monitor and verify. Measure sample plots, confirm survival and track parcel boundaries.

Status under Verra

According to Verra, projects using AR-ACM0003 or AR-AMS0007 that were listed as under validation had to complete validation by 30 June 2025. VM0047 v1.1 has been effective for all projects since 14 May 2025. Registered projects generally keep their methodology until crediting period renewal. At renewal, they move to the rules in force. Check the current VCS Standard and Verra notices.

Indonesia and Southeast Asia lessons

Smallholder ARR in Indonesia typically means farmers planting timber, fruit and agroforestry trees on their own land in Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi or Nusa Tenggara. Parcels are small, tenure documents vary and planting happens in waves. AR-AMS0007 handled this through simplified rules. VM0047 handles it through two routes:

• the census-based approach, which counts and measures individual trees and suits planting outside forests;
• grouped projects, which let new farms join over time under one validated design.

Lessons that carry over:

• Parcel data is the backbone. Polygons, ownership evidence and consent records for every farm. Read farmer registration and consent.
• Survival matters more than planting numbers. Credits follow living trees, not seedlings distributed.
• Aggregation needs governance. Farmer groups, cooperatives or village institutions must manage benefit sharing transparently. Read smallholder ARR aggregation.

Moving a small-scale project to current rules

Projects that registered under AR-AMS0007 and want to continue past their crediting period should plan the move to VM0047 early. Practical steps:

1. Check which VCS Standard version and VM0047 version will apply at renewal.
2. Decide between the census-based and area-based approach, based on how trees are planted.
3. Audit existing data: parcel polygons, tree counts, diameters and survival records.
4. Fill gaps with a measurement campaign before the renewal validation.
5. Re-run the non-permanence risk assessment and update consent records for all farmers.

Our ARR carbon estimator gives a first view of volumes under current assumptions.

Keep in mind that scattered smallholder planting often mixes timber, fruit and shade trees on the same farm. Decide early which trees are inside the project and record them consistently.

Pitfalls verifiers flag

• Missing evidence that participants meet the low-income criteria.
• Parcels without clear boundaries or consent.
• Planting counts used instead of measured survival.
• Removals that exceed the small-scale cap.
• Barrier claims without evidence.

See the ARR hub, the standards hub and our project eligibility quiz.