First Soil Carbon Methodology Approved

Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), the independent standards body, has approved the first offset methodology for sustainable land management practices (SALM). This methodology (VM0017) is designed to track changes in soil organic carbon levels due to "carbon farming" practices such as manure management, use of cover crops, compost recycling, and no-till farming. The World Bank developed the methodology for a smallholder pilot project in Kenya. Promoters hope that the availability of carbon credits will increase the financial attractiveness of other, larger carbon farming projects, particularly bundled smallholder projects.