VM0048 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation

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

VM0048 explained: Verra's consolidated REDD+ methodology, jurisdiction-allocated baselines, how it replaced legacy methods and CCP status in Indonesia.

VM0048 is Verra’s consolidated REDD+ methodology for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and its defining feature is that baselines come from jurisdiction-level data allocated by Verra, not from each developer’s own model. It is the route for new REDD+ projects under the VCS Program, replacing legacy methods such as the REDD components of VM0007, and it has ICVCM approval.

Why VM0048 exists

Older REDD+ methodologies let developers model their own baseline deforestation, often using reference regions they selected. Studies and media reports argued this led to inflated baselines and over-crediting in some projects. See the REDD+ baseline controversy.

VM0048 responds in three ways:

• One consolidated methodology with modules for different REDD+ activities, instead of several competing methods.
• Jurisdictional baselines. Verra calculates deforestation for the jurisdiction from independent data and allocates it to projects. See VM0048 jurisdictional allocation.
• Regular baseline updates, so baselines track reality rather than a long-term projection.

Structure

VM0048 works as a framework plus activity modules. The first module covers avoiding unplanned deforestation, the most common REDD+ activity type. Verra has developed further modules for other activities such as planned deforestation and degradation; check the Verra website for which modules are currently released and their versions.

Compare in detail at VM0048 vs VM0007.

Key requirements

• Eligibility. Forest that meets the definition in the methodology for the required period before project start.
• Allocated baseline from Verra’s jurisdictional activity data and risk map.
• Monitoring of forest cover change inside the project, typically by remote sensing, plus field carbon stock data.
• Leakage assessment for displaced deforestation.
• Non-permanence buffer via the AFOLU non-permanence risk tool.
• Safeguards and stakeholder engagement, often reinforced by CCB Standards.

Read the current VM0048 document and modules for detailed parameters such as baseline validity and historical reference periods.

How it applies in Indonesia and Southeast Asia

Indonesia supplies most of Southeast Asia’s nature-based credits: 59.3% of regional issuance under VCS and Gold Standard to April 2025, mostly REDD+. Many of those projects were developed under legacy methods and face transition to VM0048 at baseline reassessment.

Indonesia-specific issues:

• Peat. Many Indonesian REDD+ projects sit on peat, where emissions from drainage and fire can exceed biomass loss. Check how VM0048 and its modules handle peat, and whether other methods are needed. See peatland REDD+.
• Drivers. Deforestation drivers differ by province, from oil palm and pulp to mining and smallholder agriculture. See drivers of deforestation in Indonesia.
• National architecture. Perpres 110/2025 is the legal anchor; Permenhut 6/2026 governs forestry carbon trading; exchange-traded units must be recorded in SRUK. Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 target and national reference levels interact with project baselines. See nesting projects in jurisdictions.
• Communities. Permenhut 6/2026 names social forestry, customary forests and communities as legitimate, equal participants.

Transition checklist for legacy REDD+ projects

Projects moving from legacy methods to VM0048 should:

1. Confirm the transition deadline and baseline reassessment date with Verra.
2. Obtain the published jurisdictional activity data and risk map for the project’s jurisdiction.
3. Re-model baseline emissions under the allocation and compare with current issuance.
4. Update carbon stock data if older inventories are outdated.
5. Re-check leakage areas and monitoring design against VM0048 requirements.
6. Inform buyers and offtakers of expected volume changes early.

Early communication with buyers matters most. Offtake contracts priced on legacy baselines may need renegotiation, and buyers value developers who disclose transition effects before verification rather than after.

Common pitfalls

• Expecting legacy baseline volumes. Allocated baselines are often lower than developer-modelled ones. Re-run financial models.
• Ignoring jurisdiction-level data. The allocation decides your baseline; understand it before investing.
• Assuming peat is covered automatically. Check the modules.
• Weak leakage planning. Displacement within the jurisdiction reduces credits.

Relationship to ICVCM CCP status

ICVCM has approved VM0048 as meeting the CCP Assessment Framework, and Verra is CCP-Eligible. Legacy project-level REDD+ methodologies are not the route to the CCP label. Check the status table for the approved version and any conditions. See CCP label.

Next steps

Read the REDD+ hub, the standards hub, or our carbon modelling service for transition impact analysis.