# Verra VM00042

The scope of the Verra VM0042 methodology, titled **"METHODOLOGY FOR IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL LAND MANAGEMENT"**, is to provide procedures for **estimating reductions and removals of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions**, specifically CO2, CH4 and N2O, resulting from the adoption of improved agricultural land management (ALM) practices.

This methodology is compatible with regenerative agriculture and focuses in particular on the **increase of organic carbon storage in soil (SOC)**.

More specifically, VM0042:

* **Quantifies GHG reductions and removals**: Establishes procedures for quantifying, monitoring and reporting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4 and N2O).
* **Focus on soil organic carbon**: Places particular emphasis on increasing organic carbon storage in soil.
* **Neutrality with respect to GHG programmes**: Designed to be neutral with respect to GHG programmes (both voluntary and mandatory, internal or external), but can be used in association with them.
* **Global applicability scope**: Applies to a wide range of project activities that increase SOC storage and/or decrease net CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from ALM operations relative to the reference scenario. The methodology is applicable globally.
* **Applicability conditions**: Applicable if projects introduce or implement new modifications to pre-existing ALM practices that improve fertiliser management, water/irrigation management, reduce tillage/improve residue management, improve crop sowing and harvesting (e.g. improved agroforestry, crop rotations, cover crops) and/or improve grazing practices. Such quantitative modifications must exceed 5% of the pre-existing value. Applies to land that is arable or pasture at the project start date.
* **Determination of baseline and additionality**: Uses a "project method" to determine additionality and the credit baseline. The baseline assumes continuation of pre-project ALM practices. Additionality is demonstrated through a barrier analysis and by showing that the practice change is not a common practice (defined as an adoption rate above 20%).
* **Quantification approaches**: Provides three approaches for quantifying emission reductions and removals:
  1. **Quantification Approach 1: Measure and Model** – uses a biogeochemical model to estimate GHG fluxes related to changes in SOC, soil methanogenesis and use of nitrogen fertilisers and nitrogen-fixing species.
  2. **Quantification Approach 2: Measure and Re-Measure** – uses direct measurement to quantify changes in SOC stocks. This approach is relevant when models are not available or have not yet been validated for a particular region, crop or practice. Includes direct measurement of SOC changes in "baseline control sites".
  3. **Quantification Approach 3: Default Factors** – CO2 fluxes from fossil fuels and N2O and CH4 fluxes (excluding soil methanogenesis) are calculated using default emission factors.
* **Uncertainty management**: Includes a detailed section for the quantification and deduction of uncertainty associated with estimates of GHG reductions and removals, depending on the quantification approach used.
* **Leakage prevention**: Contains provisions for accounting for emission leakage, such as that arising from new applications of organic amendments, livestock displacement or productivity declines.

The methodology was developed by TerraCarbon LLC and Indigo Ag in its version 1.0 (approved on 19 October 2020) and version 2.0 (30 May 2023) was prepared by Verra with contributions from TerraCarbon LLC and other experts. It is based on previous methodologies and tools from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

{% embed url="<https://verra.org/methodologies/vm0042-improved-agricultural-land-management-v2-1/>" %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://registry.carborea.com/home/en/metodologia-and-standard/tcr-trusted-carbon-reduction/verra-vm00042.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.