Verra, a leading standards setter for the voluntary carbon market, has announced a major milestone with the registration of the first project using a Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) methodology approved by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM).
The methodology meets the rigorous standards of the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) Assessment Framework, as per the approval by the ICVCM.
The project, named Tond Tenga, is based in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and is registered under Verra’s VCS Program.
It employs the VM0047 methodology—focused on Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR)—which was approved by ICVCM in December 2024.
This methodology enables the restoration of over 29,700 acres (12,000 hectares) of degraded land through native tree planting and agroforestry techniques.
Carbon credits generated under this methodology will carry the CCP label, signifying their high integrity and climate credibility.
Relevant: Verra Gets ICVCM Approval For Afforestation, Reforestation, And Revegetation Methodology
Although Verra-certified projects have previously received CCP labels, Tond Tenga is the first to do so using a VCS-developed methodology formally recognized by the ICVCM.
This sets a precedent for future projects aiming to align with globally trusted carbon standards.
“This project demonstrates what high-integrity carbon markets can deliver: measurable climate results, community resilience, and landscape restoration at scale,” Mandy Rambharos, CEO of Verra, said in a comment.
According to Rambharos, Tond Tenga showcases the kind of high-quality climate action that CCP-approved methodologies can help realize.
Spanning a 40-year crediting period, the project is expected to remove over 3.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
Beyond its climate impact, it contributes to sustainable development goals by promoting biodiversity, empowering communities—particularly women—and providing long-term, sustainable livelihoods.
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