ARGENTINA GRAN CHACO REGION

REDD+ PROJECT

Document Prepared by

Project Title Argentina Gran Chaco Region REDD+ Project

Version 0.1

Date of Issue 10-July-2023

Prepared By ProSustentia

Contact Lavalle 465, piso 7, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Phone: +54911-36338125,
Email: [email protected], [email protected],
www.prosustentia.com
CONTENTS
1 PROJECT DETAILS................................................................................................. 4
1.1 Summary Description of the Project ................................................................................ 4
1.2 Sectoral Scope and Project Type .................................................................................... 4
1.3 Project Eligibility .................................................................................................................. 5
1.4 Project Design ..................................................................................................................... 5
1.5 Project Proponent .............................................................................................................. 6
1.6 Other Entities Involved in the Project ............................................................................... 7
1.7 Ownership............................................................................................................................ 7
1.8 Project Start Date ............................................................................................................... 8
1.9 Project Crediting Period .................................................................................................... 8
1.10 Project Scale and Estimated GHG Emission Reductions or Removals ........................ 8
1.11 Description of the Project Activity .................................................................................... 8
1.12 Project Location ................................................................................................................. 9
1.13 Conditions Prior to Project Initiation ............................................................................... 10
1.14 Compliance with Laws, Statutes and Other Regulatory Frameworks ....................... 11
1.15 Participation under Other GHG Programs .................................................................... 14
1.16 Other Forms of Credit ....................................................................................................... 15
1.17 Sustainable Development Contributions ...................................................................... 16
1.18 Additional Information Relevant to the Project ........................................................... 17

2 SAFEGUARDS ..................................................................................................... 17
2.1 No Net Harm ..................................................................................................................... 17
2.2 Local Stakeholder Consultation ..................................................................................... 17
2.3 Environmental Impact ..................................................................................................... 17
2.4 Public Comments ............................................................................................................. 18
2.5 AFOLU-Specific Safeguards ............................................................................................ 18

3 APPLICATION OF METHODOLOGY................................................................... 18
3.1 Title and Reference of Methodology ............................................................................ 18
3.2 Applicability of Methodology ......................................................................................... 19
3.3 Project Boundary .............................................................................................................. 20
3.4 Baseline Scenario ............................................................................................................. 20
 3.5 Additionality ...................................................................................................................... 20
3.6 Methodology Deviations ................................................................................................. 20

4 QUANTIFICATION OF GHG EMISSION REDUCTIONS AND REMOVALS .......... 20

4.1 Baseline Emissions ............................................................................................................. 21
4.2 Project Emissions ............................................................................................................... 21
4.3 Leakage............................................................................................................................. 21
4.4 Net GHG Emission Reductions and Removals .............................................................. 21

5 MONITORING .................................................................................................... 21
5.1 Data and Parameters Available at Validation ............................................................ 21
5.2 Data and Parameters Monitored ................................................................................... 21
5.3 Monitoring Plan ................................................................................................................. 21
1 PROJECT DETAILS
1.1 Summary Description of the Project
The "Argentina Gran Chaco region REDD+ Project” (hereinafter, "the Project"), aims to protect the
native forest socio-ecosystems of the Argentine Gran Chaco ecoregion. The Project will seek to
reduce planned deforestation and unplanned deforestation and degradation pressures by
encouraging landowners granted with large-scale agricultural and livestock production
deforestation permits to set aside their land for conservation and forest regeneration. It will also
implement a combination of environmental and social activities aimed at improving the
livelihoods of community members living in the vicinity of the project area as well as the
enhancement of the forest and biodiversity.
In Argentina, deforestation has accelerated over the past 40 years as the country's agricultural
frontier has expanded, resulting in one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. This was
mainly due to increased rainfall and the introduction of new agricultural technologies, such as
glyphosate-resistant transgenic soybeans and no-tillage agriculture, which reduced planting
costs1. This expansion of the agricultural frontier is having a major impact on native ecosystems
and their biodiversity. At the same time, deforestation and land enclosure have altered the
livelihoods of many indigenous and/or peasant communities who use large areas of the Gran
Chaco Forest for activities that combine hunting, gathering and fishing.
For the first Project Activity Instance (PAI), the project proponent, VISTA Energy, purchased part
of the "El Chaguaral" farm located in the north of the province of Salta, Argentina (host country)
in the current boundary of the agricultural frontier. The former owner of the property had a
clearing permit to transform the land for agricultural and livestock purposes. The current owner
and project proponent will not make use of that permit avoiding the deforestation and the
degradation of the native forests and thus generating the reduction of CO 2 emissions. Activities
to achieve this include fencing the property to prevent illegal entry by outsiders, hiring responsible
field staff to monitor the property, and developing and implementing a biodiversity conservation
plan together with an action plan for fire prevention, warning and response will be implemented.
Activities to improve the conditions of the forest include also assisted natural regeneration and
enrichment planting if necessary to ensure natural succession of the native forest.
The initial activity instance comprises 4,892 hectares generating an estimated of ≈ 983,460
tCO2e net GHG emissions reductions and removals, implying a total GHG benefit for the
environment of approximately ≈49,173. tCO2 e per year for the length of the project (20 years).

1.2 Sectoral Scope and Project Type

Sectoral scope: 14 (Agriculture, Forestry, Land Use)

1 Pertile, V. C. (2004). Ampliación de la frontera agropecuaria chaqueña: El Oeste Chaqueño y el cultivo algodonero.
 Project Description: VCS Version 4.2

Category: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+)

Activity type: Avoided Planned Deforestation (APD); Avoided Unplanned Deforestation and
Degradation (AUDD) and Afforestation, Revegetation and Regeneration (ARR).

The Project is a grouped project.

1.3 Project Eligibility

The Project is eligible under the scope of the VCS Program as the Project includes AFOLU activities
(project category APD, “Avoided Planned Deforestation”; AUDD “Avoided Unplanned Deforestation
and Degradation” and ARR “Afforestation, Revegetation and Regeneration”) which are supported
by a methodology approved under the VCS Program.

The project prevents the area from being deforested and degraded and modified from its native
ecosystem.

This is a voluntary project and the reductions expected to be achieved would not have taken place
without it.

1.4 Project Design

☒ The project is a grouped project.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicability conditions set out for the selected methodology described in section 3.2 and
VCS Standard will apply to all project activity instances and include:

1. The project area is on forest lands that are legally authorized and documented for
conversion.

2. The entire geographic project area within which the Project Activities Instances (PAIs) will
be located is subject to the respective baseline scenario and modelling domain
determined in the project description.

3. The characteristics with respect to additionality are consistent for the initial instances as
well as for the total geographic project area.

4. Land in the project area has qualified as forest (following the definition used by VCS) for
at least the 10 years prior to the project start date.

5. Baseline deforestation and forest degradation in the project area fall within one or more
of the following categories:

- Unplanned deforestation / degradation (VCS category AUDD).

- Planned deforestation (VCS category APD).

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- Degradation through extraction of wood for fuel (fuelwood and charcoal production)
(VCS category AUDD).

6. Leakage avoidance activities must not include:

- Agricultural lands that are flooded to increase production (e.g., rice paddy).

- Intensifying livestock production through use of feedlots and/or manure lagoons.

In addition, the VCS Standard v4.3 requires that grouped projects allow for the inclusion of new
PAIs after the initial validation of the project. These new project activity instances will meet the
following criteria:

1. The land and activities comply with the applicable set of eligibility criteria detailed in the
Project PDD. This will be demonstrated with sufficient technical, financial, geographic,
and other relevant information in the corresponding monitoring reports.

2. Validation will be done at the time of verification against the applicable set of eligibility
criteria.

3. Present evidence of project ownership, in respect of each project activity instance, held
by the project proponent from the respective start date of each project activity instance
(i.e., the date upon which the project activity instance began reducing or removing GHG
emissions).

4. Have a start date that is the same as or later than the grouped project start date.

5. Can be eligible for crediting from the start date of the instance through to the end of the
project crediting period (only).

1.5 Project Proponent

Organization name Vista Energy Argentina SAU

Contact person Delfina Gotsis

Title Account Manager

Address Av. del Libertador 101, Piso 12, Vicente López - 1638. Provincia de
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Telephone +5411 3754 8500

Email [email protected]

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1.6 Other Entities Involved in the Project

Organization name AIKE

Role in the project Project manager and operator (subsidiary of Vista Energy created to
design, develop and operate NBS projects for Vista Energy)

Contact person Agustín Gowland

Title Forestry Manager

Address Av. del Libertador 101, Piso 12, Vicente López - 1638. Provincia de
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Telephone +5411 3754 8500

Email [email protected]

Organization name ProSustentia

Role in the project VCS-CCB Certification Consultant

Contact person Federico Moyano

Title Director

Address Lavalle 465, piso 7, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Telephone +54911-36338195

Email [email protected]

1.7 Ownership
VISTA (hereafter “the Project proponent”) has the ownership and legal right of the project activity.
The initial project activity instance (4,892 ha) is financed by VISTA and operated and
administered by Aike. Even though the land was purchased by VISTA it will be donated to a
foundation currently being set up by persons related to Vista. The main objective of this
foundation is to promote the development of NBS projects that generate real and measurable
social and environmental co-benefits. Through an agreement with Vista, the foundation will
contribute with the design and management of the project´s social and environmental aspects.
Vista will grant the land´s domain to the foundation, retaining the right of use during the term of
the project.

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For the additional project instances, the project proponent is expected to have the legal right to
control and operate the project activities agreeing to such right through one or more of the types
of evidence established for the project ownership in the VCS Standard v4.4 21 December 2022
– Section 3.6.

1.8 Project Start Date

The project start date is the December 21st, 2022, when the project proponent made the first
purchase deposit for the initial project instance and the previous owner could not continue with
the deforestation plan.

1.9 Project Crediting Period

The project crediting period extends from December 21st, 2022, to December 21st, 2042. It is a
20-year crediting period although the project lifetime will be of 100 years.

1.10 Project Scale and Estimated GHG Emission Reductions or Removals

The estimated annual GHG emission reductions/removals of the project are:

☐ <20,000 tCO2e/year

☒ 20,000 – 100,000 tCO2e/year

☐ 100,001 – 1,000,000 tCO2e/year

☐ >1,000,000 tCO2e/year

1.11 Description of the Project Activity

This project aims to prevent planned and unplanned deforestation and degradation of native
forests, thereby reducing pressure on natural forest habitats in the Gran Chaco region of
Argentina. It will also promote their regeneration to enhance the region's environmental services.

Planned deforestation will be avoided through a legal agreement between the proponent and the
landowners avoiding the use of permits already granted from the provincial authority to clear their
land for agriculture and livestock production purposes. In the contractual arrangement the
proponent would have control of the project to ensure carbon stocks permanence during the
crediting period. The Foundation (see Section 1.7) will then take over the land and continue the
same sustainable management, ensuring the project's longevity.

Unplanned degradation will be avoided through a set of targeted activities to control the three
main drivers of such degradation: livestock entry, fire and extraction of wood for fuel (fuelwood
and charcoal production)

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Forest restoration activities through silvicultural practices will be carried out to maximize carbon
sequestration.
The development of this activities will cause the improvement of livelihood of community
members living in the vicinity of the project area, generating sustainable economic opportunities
which in turn will result in reduced deforestation in the region and increase the biodiversity
preservation.
For the first PAI the proponent bought 4,892 ha of the "El Chaguaral" farm located in the
Department of Orán, Province of Salta in northern Argentina (Figure 1). The previous owner had
a clearing permit for agricultural and livestock purposes that will not be used, representing a
significant avoidance of GHG emissions to the atmosphere. By the time this project is being
registered in the pipeline, forest engineers are developing the Management Plan to achieve the
objectives of the project.

Figure 1: Location of the first Project Activity Instance, “Chaguaral” Farm.

1.12 Project Location

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As an AFOLU cluster project, PAIs can be added throughout the crediting period of the project.
The area within which the PAI can be added covers the “Gran Chaco Region”. This Argentine
region comprises almost 64,600 km², (64,623,386 ha) in the Northeast of Argentina2 (Figure 2).

Geodetic coordinates will be provided for each instance included in the grouped project in a file
format such as KML (Keyhole Markup Language).

Figure 2: Grouped project area: Argentine “Gran Chaco Region”. The yellow marqued dot
corresponds to the first Project Activity Instance (Chaguaral Farm)

1.13 Conditions Prior to Project Initiation

Ecosystem type: The Gran Chaco comprises a mosaic of environments from savannahs to
wetlands, as well as one of the largest remaining tracts of dry forests in the world and the second
largest forested ecosystem outside the Amazon in South America. In this large region, rainfall is
concentrated in the summer and early autumn (monsoon regime), decreasing progressively from
east to west, with an average rainfall of 1.199 mm in the eastern part and around 500 mm in the

2 Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Argentina https://www.argentina.gob.ar/parquesnacionales/ecorregiones

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western part. The average temperature reaches a maximum of 26 ºC and a minimum of 13.3 ºC.
Frosts can reach -10 or -12 ºC in some winters in the central part.

The Gran Chaco is a large sedimentary basin with an irregular and discontinuous array of loessic
sediments over fine alluvial deposits (Salado alluvial fan deposition system). The natural
rangeland vegetation is characterized by a mosaic of forests, parks, savannahs and shrublands.
The plant physiognomy and botanical composition vary according to the ecological sites (humid
or dry Chaco), it has a has a high diversity of woody trees and tall shrubs. The characteristic
vegetation is a mix of dense thorn forest and open woodland dominated by quebracho (Shinopsis
spp.), algarrobo (Prosopis spp.), palosantal (Bulnesia spp.), and cardonal or toothpick cactus
(Stetsonia coryne)3.

Current and historical land-use: Twenty-five per cent of the Gran Chaco in Argentina has been
cleared for agriculture, mainly for extensive crop and livestock production, mostly in the last 40
years. The highest rates of deforestation have been recorded in the last 15 years and, although
there has been a slight decrease, it is still continuing. Climate variability has also contributed to
rapid deforestation, soil degradation and loss of biodiversity. Agribusiness continues to exert
pressure on South America's major agricultural expansion frontiers, particularly soy and beef
production. In the region where native forests are not cleared, they are subject to unmanaged
cattle ranching by local communities of indigenous people, who have lived in the region as
nomads for centuries, and criollo communities. Also subject to wild forest fires and wood robbery
for fuel use and charcoal production.

Has the land been cleared of native ecosystems within 10 years of the project start date?

☐ Yes ☒ No

1.14 Compliance with Laws, Statutes and Other Regulatory Frameworks

Argentina's forestry sector has a strong regulatory framework. Law Nº 26.331 of Minimum
Standards for the Environmental Protection of Native Forests 4 was enacted in December 2007.
This law is the most important existing tool to promote a forestry policy on native forests in the
country. It establishes the minimum environmental protection requirements for the enrichment,
restoration, conservation, use, and sustainable management of native forests and the
environmental services they provide to society.

The fundamental management instrument contemplated in the Law is the obligation of each
jurisdiction to carry out and approve, by provincial law, the Territorial Planning of Native Forests
(OTBN from its acronyms in Spanish) existing in its territory, categorizing the forests according to
their conservation value. These conservation categories are:

3 Kunst, C. (2011). Ecología y uso del fuego en la región chaqueña Argentina. Boletin informativo CIDEU, (10), 81-105.
4 http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/

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- Category I (red): sectors of very high conservation value that should not be transformed. It
includes areas that due to their locations relative to reserves, their connectivity value, the
presence of outstanding biological values and/or the protection of watersheds that they
exert.

- Category II (yellow): is defined as native forests of medium conservation value and its use is
limited to sustainable use, tourism and scientific investigation.

- Category III (green): is defined as native forest of low conservation value that can be partially
or completely transformed in its totality but within the criteria established in the National
Law.

Figure 3 shows that the project area is in category III (green), which allows the total or partial
transformation of forests.

Figure 3: Province of Salta and Chaguaral Farm classified according to Law 26.331.

In the table 1, below, it is detailed the compliance of the project with all and any relevant local,
regional, and national laws, statutes and regulatory frameworks.

Table 1: National and regional laws, status and regulatory frameworks.

Law/Regulation/Resolution Compliance with the project

General Environmental Law (Nº 25.675): This project seeks the conservation and
establishes the minimum requirements for the sustainable management of the forest of the Gran
achievement of sustainable and adequate Chaco ecoregion and the biodiversity that inhabits
management of the environment, the it.
preservation and protection of biological diversity,

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and the implementation of sustainable

development practices.

Law of Minimum Standards for the Environmental In the first PAI, the project seeks to conserve the
Protection of Native Forests (Nº 26.331): as native forests present within the El Chaguaral
mentioned above, this law is the most important farm. To achieve this conservation, the project
existing tool to promote a forestry policy on native defines different measures focused on reducing
forests in the country. Within this framework, deforestation, maintaining ecological and
Argentina's 23 provinces have zoned their forests environmental processes and the maintenance of
according to the three conservation categories the forest's environmental services, including
established by the Law. This law also regulates the carbon sequestration. All the project area is in
harvesting and clearing of native forests. In category III (green), which allows the total or
addition, regulates the National Fund for the partial transformation of forests. Regarding the
Enrichment and Conservation of Native Forests, National Fund for the Enrichment and
which is a state fund that aims to compensate the Conservation of Native Forests, there was no
jurisdictions that conserve native forests for the evidence that the environmental authority is
environmental services they provide. receiving resources from the commercialization of
ecosystem services (carbon) generated within the
farm or in areas near the farm. In addition, the
project proponent has not applied and is not
interested in applying to be part of this Fund, as it
plans to trade carbon credits in international
voluntary markets.

Provincial Law Nº 7.543: Since its enactment in The project complies with the norms established
2008, this law allows Forest Law Nº 26.331 to be by this provincial law and as mentioned above,
carried out in the province of Salta. This law the project area is within category III of
establishes the norms for the Territorial conservation.
Management of Native Forests in the Province of
Salta.

Law Nº 7.107, which creates the Provincial System The project will comply with all conservation
of Protected Areas. That is to say, areas that are regulations and will not generate carbon credits
regulated using participative institutional through the implementation of activities that are
management, with the purpose of planning and already promoted by any national regulation.
executing processes aimed at achieving
sustainability in the management of the
Province's natural resources.

Law Nº 27.270 approving the Paris Agreement. This project contributes to the reduction of GHGs
in the atmosphere and the mitigation of climate
change impacts. It is expected that the
contributions generated by this project can be

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effectively registered in the VERRA registry so that

emission reductions are not reported twice at the
national level.

REDD+ results-based payments program in The project does not intend to opt for payments
Argentina for the 2014-2016 results period for results obtained during 2014-2016. The
financed by the Green Climate Fund. crediting period for this project begins in 2022.

National Parks Law (Law Nº 22.351), National The project will comply with all conservation
Decree of Natural Reserves (453/1994), and regulations and will not generate carbon credits
National Decree of Strict Natural Reserves through the implementation of activities that are
(2148/1990): Argentina has a series of national already promoted by any national regulation.
categories for the conservation of areas valuable
for biodiversity. Specific regulations on protected
areas, it includes the categories of National Park,
Natural Monument or National Reserve (Law
22.351), Wild and Educational Natural Reserves
(Decree 453/1994), and Strict Natural Reserves
(Decree 2148/1990)

Law on Minimum Environmental Protection The project activities comply and enforce
Requirements for Forest and Rural Fires (Nº activities in accordance with all fire management
26.815): applies to actions and operations for the regulations.
prevention, suppression, and combat of forest
and rural fires that burn live or dead vegetation,
in native and planted forests, protected natural
areas, agricultural areas, grasslands, pastures,
shrublands and wetlands and in areas where
building structures are intermingled with
vegetation outside the strictly urban or structural
environment. It regulates planned fires, which are
allowed to burn under specific environmental
conditions, for the achievement of management
objectives of a territorial unit.

Law Nº 13.273. Law of forest wealth that declares The project aims at conserving and protecting the
of public interest the defense, improvement, and forested areas of the El Chaguaral farm.
expansion of forests.

1.15 Participation under Other GHG Programs

Projects Registered (or seeking registration) under Other GHG Program(s)

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The project has not been registered or is seeking registration under any other GHG programs.

Projects Rejected by Other GHG Programs

The project has not been rejected by any other GHG Programs.

1.16 Other Forms of Credit

Emissions Trading Programs and Other Binding Limits

Does the project reduce GHG emissions from activities that are included in an emissions
trading program or any other mechanism that includes GHG allowance trading?

☐ Yes ☒ No

The project does not reduce GHG emissions from activities that are included in an emissions
trading program or any other mechanism that includes GHG allowance.

Other Forms of Environmental Credit

Has the project sought or received another form of GHG-related credit, including renewable
energy certificates?

☐ Yes ☒ No

The project neither has not intends to receive another form of GHG-related environmental
credit.

Supply Chain (Scope 3) Emissions

Have the owner(s) or retailer(s) of the impacted goods and services posted a public statement
saying, “VCUs may be issued for the greenhouse gas emission reductions and removals
associated with [organization name(s)] [name of good or service]” since the project’s start date?

☐ Yes ☒ No

There are no merchantable goods or services derived from the project activities.

Has the project proponent posted a public statement saying, “VCUs may be issued for the
greenhouse gas emission reductions and removals associated with [name of good or service]
[describe the region or location, including organization name(s), where practicable].”

☐ Yes ☒ No

There are no merchantable goods or services derived from the project activities.

Have the producer(s) or retailer(s) of the impacted good or service been notified of the project
and the potential risk of Scope 3 emissions double claiming via email?

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☐ Yes ☒ No

There are no merchantable goods or services derived from the project activities.

1.17 Sustainable Development Contributions

Argentina is among the 150 countries that adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations
Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015.

The National Council for the Coordination of Social Policies, the National Statistics and Census
Institute (INDEC) and the International Relations and Institutional Communication Direction are
coordinating efforts at government level to establish and implement monitoring systems for ODS
indicators integrated with the national planning and identifying the advances and challenges in
relation to them567

The 17 SDGs aim to end poverty, hunger, and inequality, take action on climate change and the
environment, improve access to health and education, and build strong institutions and
partnerships, and more.

In this regard, the project contributes to the achievement of the country's goals through the
conservation of the native forest. The ecological and social structures and functions associated
with the native forest ensure the provision of ecosystem services that are essential to sustain
the life on the planet. The main objectives defined by the project to achieve the SDGs are:

• Promote an integrated management scheme with the ecosystem by avoiding native forest
exploitation or deforestation.

• Promote an institutional plan to interact and collaborate with local communities to

ensure conservation activities over time and create better living conditions.

• Increased demand for labor from the local population: to carry out work related to the
preservation and regeneration of native forests and biodiversity. Such as wiring,
surveillance and monitoring personnel, chopping and firefighting, among others.

• Reduce and avoid the number of possible forest fires that can be generated by avoiding
the illegal entry of people outside the property. As well as the training of all the relevant
actors of the project on forest fires will contribute to the implementation of activities to
mitigate the risk of forest fires.

5 https://www.argentina.gob.ar/politicassociales/ods
6 https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Institucional-GacetillaCompleta-177
7 https://www.argentina.gob.ar/politicassociales/ods/subnacional/provincias/informes/2019

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• Increase and preserve the biodiversity of flora and fauna present in the forests through
monitoring and surveillance to prevent the illegal entry of hunters and gatherers of wood.

• Income increase over time for project workers is expected to occur as workers get
qualified and project income increases due to the revenues from the sale of carbon
credits. Increasing one worker’s income can have a significant impact on their family's
wellbeing.

• Generating net anthropogenic CO2 removals by sinks.

1.18 Additional Information Relevant to the Project

Leakage Management

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

Commercially Sensitive Information

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

Further Information

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

2 SAFEGUARDS
2.1 No Net Harm
This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

2.2 Local Stakeholder Consultation

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

2.3 Environmental Impact

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This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

2.4 Public Comments

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

2.5 AFOLU-Specific Safeguards

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

3 APPLICATION OF METHODOLOGY
3.1 Title and Reference of Methodology
The project uses the VCS REDD Methodology, entitled, “VM0007: REDD Methodology Modules
(REDD-MF)”, version 1.6 (September 2020). The potential modules and tools to be used are the
following:

Carbon pool modules:

- VMD0001 Estimation of carbon stocks in the above- and belowground biomass in live tree
and non-tree pools (CP-AB), version 1.1

Baseline modules:

- VMD0006 Estimation of baseline carbon stock changes and greenhouse gas emissions
from planned deforestation/forest degradation and planned wetland degradation (BL-PL),
version 1.3

Leakage modules:

- VMD0009 Estimation of emissions from activity shifting for avoiding planned

deforestation/forest degradation and avoiding planned wetland degradation (LK-ASP),
version 1.3

Monitoring modules:

- VMD0015 Methods for monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions and removals in REDD
project activities (M-REDD), version 2.2

Miscellaneous modules:

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- VMD0016 Methods for stratification of the project area (X-STR), version 1.2

Tools:

- CMD Tool for testing significance of GHG emissions in A/R CDM project activities (TSIG)

- VCS AFOLU Non-Permanence Risk Tool (T-BAR)

- CDM Combined tool to identify the baseline scenario and demonstrate additionality in A/R
CDM project activities (T-ADD)

- X-UNC (VMD0017)

- LK-ME (VMD0011)

3.2 Applicability of Methodology

The above modules are applicable because they meet the applicability conditions of the REDD
Methodology Framework and other modules as set out below.

Applicability condition Project compliance

Land in the project area has qualified as forest

(following the definition used by VCS) for at The entire Project Area meets the local CDM
least the 10 years prior to the project start definition of a forest.
date.

If land within the project area is peatland or

tidal wetlands and emissions from the SOC
None of the project area contains peatland or
pool are deemed significant, the relevant WRC
tidal wetlands.
modules must be applied alongside other
relevant modules.

Baseline deforestation in the project area falls

Baseline deforestation and forest degradation
within the planned and unplanned deforestation
in the project area fall within one or more of
category, as the previous landowner has a
the following categories:
deforestation permit granted by the Provincial
- Unplanned deforestation (VCS category AUDD)
Environmental Authority, to carry out a land use
- Planned deforestation/degradation (VCS
change plan in order to prepare the land for
category APD)
agriculture and livestock (See Section 1.14).
- Degradation through extraction of wood for
Also unplanned deforestation and degradation
fuel (fuelwood and charcoal production) (VCS
usually occurs in the conservation area of the
category AUDD)
management project.

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 Project Description: VCS Version 4.2

Leakage avoidance activities must not include:

- Agricultural lands that are flooded to increase Leakage avoidance activities do not include
production (e.g., rice paddy). flooding agricultural land or creating feed-lots or
- Intensifying livestock production through use of manure lagoons.
feedlots and/or manure lagoons.

Conversion of forest lands to a deforested

condition is legally allowed in the Project Area,
since it falls under the Category III of the
Territorial Planning of Native Forests existing in
the territory, where forests can be partially or
Where conversion of forest lands to a deforested
completely transformed in its totality, within the
condition must be legally permitted.
criteria established in the National Law. Also, the
landowner has a deforestation permit granted by
the Provincial Environmental Authority, to carry
out a land use change plan in order to prepare
the land for agriculture and livestock.

3.3 Project Boundary

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

3.4 Baseline Scenario

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

3.5 Additionality
This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

3.6 Methodology Deviations

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

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4 QUANTIFICATION OF GHG EMISSION

REDUCTIONS AND REMOVALS
4.1 Baseline Emissions
This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

4.2 Project Emissions

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

4.3 Leakage
This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

4.4 Net GHG Emission Reductions and Removals

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

5 MONITORING
5.1 Data and Parameters Available at Validation
This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

5.2 Data and Parameters Monitored

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

5.3 Monitoring Plan

This section has been omitted in accordance with the VERRA Registration and Issuance Process
v4.3 17 January 2023 –Section 3.1.3 –Pipeline Listing Process.

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