akar.earthGold 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 certifies land-use projects through its Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG) framework, covering afforestation and reforestation, mangrove reforestation and soil organic carbon, and issuing credits only where projects also show sustainable development benefits. For Indonesian land projects it is the main alternative to Verra, usually chosen for community-centred removals rather than large REDD+ programs.
What Gold Standard is
Gold Standard is an independent NGO that sets standards for climate and development projects. Its website reports 4,776 projects using the standard across 133 countries. Its 2030 ambition is to catalyse 1 billion tonnes of CO2e reductions, improve 100 million lives and generate USD 100 billion in shared value.
GS4GG is the current framework. It has three layers:
- Principles and requirements that apply to every project, including safeguarding and stakeholder consultation.
- Activity requirements for specific sectors, including land use and forests.
- Methodologies and tools that set the quantification rules for each activity.
Projects contribute to climate action plus other Sustainable Development Goals, and those SDG outcomes are monitored and verified, not just described.
Land-use methodologies relevant to Southeast Asia
The GS4GG methodology listing includes several land-based options:
| Activity | What it covers | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Afforestation and reforestation | Removals from planting and assisted regeneration | Gold Standard A/R requirements |
| Mangrove reforestation | Removals from restoring mangrove ecosystems | Mangrove restoration guide |
| Soil organic carbon framework | Pasture, tillage and organic soil improver modules | Gold Standard SOC framework |
| Rice methane | Water management in rice cultivation | Check GS4GG for the current version |
Gold Standard has been revising many methodologies for Paris Agreement alignment. A landfill gas methodology under the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism now replaces CDM ACM0001 for new GS4GG projects, and the framework’s Paris Alignment Requirements were published as part of a wider update. Land-use methodologies are part of this review, so check the current version before you design.
Who uses it
- Community and smallholder project developers who want co-benefits to be certified, not only claimed.
- Corporate buyers with SDG or supply-chain narratives, including food and beverage companies sourcing from smallholder regions.
- Article 6 participants. Gold Standard and Verra launched a tool to support Article 6.2 reporting in August 2026, and Gold Standard is piloting certification of policy-level impacts that may be authorised as ITMOs.
Key requirements for land projects
- Eligibility and additionality under the relevant activity requirements and methodology.
- Stakeholder consultation, held before design is finalised and documented for the validator.
- Safeguarding principles covering human rights, land tenure, gender and biodiversity.
- SDG impact monitoring alongside carbon monitoring.
- Non-permanence management for removals, including a buffer mechanism. Check current percentages in the land-use requirements.
- Independent validation and verification by a Gold Standard-approved VVB.
How it applies in Indonesia and Southeast Asia
Gold Standard’s land-use rules suit the kinds of projects that are growing in Indonesia: smallholder agroforestry with coffee, cocoa or rubber, community reforestation on degraded land, and mangrove rehabilitation. The emphasis on consultation fits Permenhut 6/2026, which names social forestry groups, customary forests and communities as legitimate participants in forestry carbon trading.
Domestic rules still apply. Perpres 110/2025 is the legal anchor, and units traded on IDXCarbon must be recorded in SRUK. A Gold Standard project needs both international certification and a clear domestic pathway. Our carbon strategy service helps compare these routes.
Supply data shows the regional picture is lopsided. VCS and Gold Standard together issued 129 million NbS credits in Southeast Asia to April 2025, mostly REDD+ under Verra. Gold Standard’s regional land-use share is smaller, which can mean less buyer familiarity but also less competition for removal-focused buyers.
Common pitfalls
- Assuming REDD+ fits. Gold Standard’s land portfolio centres on removals. Confirm whether an avoided-deforestation route exists before building a business case on it.
- Treating SDG claims as soft. SDG outcomes need indicators, baselines and monitoring, which adds field cost.
- Late consultation. Consultation held after design is fixed is a common validation finding.
- Using a superseded methodology. Gold Standard has replaced several older methodologies with consolidated or Paris-aligned versions.
Relationship to ICVCM CCP status
ICVCM lists Gold Standard as a CCP-Eligible program, so the program tick is in place. The methodology tick is separate. Check the ICVCM status table for your exact methodology and version, and read our CCP label explainer.
Next steps
See Verra vs Gold Standard, return to the standards hub, or start with feasibility and eligibility for a site screen.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gold Standard certify forestry and land-use projects?
Yes. Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG) certifies land-use and forestry activities such as afforestation and reforestation, mangrove reforestation and soil organic carbon. Its land-use portfolio is weighted towards removals rather than avoided deforestation.
What credits does Gold Standard issue?
Gold Standard issues Gold Standard Verified Emission Reductions (GS VERs), each equal to one tonne of CO2e. It can also certify other impact statements, such as SDG outcomes.
Is Gold Standard CCP-Eligible?
Yes. ICVCM lists Gold Standard among CCP-Eligible programs. Each methodology is assessed separately, so check the ICVCM status table for the specific land-use methodology you plan to use.
Is Gold Standard a good fit for Indonesian smallholder projects?
It can be, especially for agroforestry and community reforestation where co-benefits and stakeholder consultation are central. Compare costs, methodology fit and buyer demand against Verra and Plan Vivo first.