Accurate measurement of nature-based carbon sequestration is fundamental to maintaining high-integrity carbon markets. With the approval of Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Methodology VM0047, afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR) projects now have a structured, data-driven approach to quantifying aboveground biomass and carbon removals.
A key milestone in standardising carbon assessments, VM0047 enables ARR projects to qualify for Core Carbon Principles (CCP) labels — a mark of quality that signals to buyers they’re investing in scientifically rigorous, high-impact projects.
As Verra’s first methodology to integrate remote sensing into carbon accounting, VM0047 allows project developers to quantify impact by comparing their project area to a similar reference area. This improves transparency, consistency, and credibility in carbon credit calculations.
However, implementing VM0047 can be complex. Many organisations struggle with selecting the right control plots, aligning datasets, and applying Verra’s quantification framework.
That’s where Earth Blox and Chloris Geospatial come in. By combining Chloris’ high-integrity forest carbon data with Earth Blox’s no-code geospatial platform, users can assess dynamic baselines, quantify impact, and generate verifiable carbon reports without the complexity of traditional data analysis.
In this blog, we’ll break down how VM0047 works, explore its challenges, and show how Earth Blox and Chloris provide an efficient solution for ARR project assessment.
Understanding VM0047: A powerful but complex methodology
VM0047 is a remote sensing-based methodology developed by Verra under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). It is designed for afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR) projects. VM0047 follows a dynamic baselining approach consisting of two key stages:
- Identifying similar locations to the project area when setting up a new project.
- Comparing the project area to those locations over time to track changes in biomass and carbon sequestration.
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The methodology relies on satellite imagery to quantify the baseline scenario versus the project scenario, ensuring that carbon sequestration is genuinely additional. To maintain comparability and integrity, Verra requires project developers to select control plots that:
- Are within a 100 km radius of the project area
- Are located in the same ecoregion (biome level) and jurisdictional boundary
- Have a similar policy environment and include the same land tenure classifications as the project area
While this enhances transparency and objectivity, it also introduces several technical and operational challenges:
1. The need for high-quality data: While VM0047 does not require direct biomass data, it does mandate the use of datasets that correlate with biomass, such as radar-derived metrics. However, satellite-based metrics and biomass estimation can vary widely in accuracy. The challenge is accessing high-resolution, globally consistent data that meets VM0047’s requirements while ensuring the most accurate and verifiable results.
Chloris’ cutting-edge biomass analytics address one of the biggest hurdles in VM0047 implementation - data quality. Rather than relying on indirect correlations alone, their approach delivers:
- Global, high-resolution biomass data - Ensuring uniform accuracy across diverse ecosystems.
- Machine Learning Models trained on ground data - Reducing errors in carbon stock estimates.
- Multi-Sensor fusion - Combining optical, radar, and LiDAR data for best-in-class biomass quantification.
2. Complex geospatial analysis is required: VM0047 is a multi-step methodology that requires deep technical expertise in order to:
- Process multi-source satellite imagery (optical, radar, LiDAR)
- Apply machine learning models if estimating biomass
- Align outputs with VM0047’s stringent quantification framework
These processes often demand specialised expertise in remote sensing, GIS, and coding, limiting accessibility for many carbon project developers or purchasing teams carrying out due diligence on potential projects.
3. Consistency and efficiency across multiple projects: Organisations managing multiple projects need a consistent, repeatable approach to ensure quality and efficiency across their portfolio.
How Earth Blox and Chloris solve VM0047’s challenges
The partnership between Earth Blox and Chloris Geospatial removes the complexity of VM0047 implementation by combining high-integrity biomass data with automated, no-code geospatial workflows. Instead of manually processing thousands of data points over many days or weeks, users can rapidly assess carbon sequestration and generate reports in just a few hours.
Using Earth Blox’s pre-built workflow templates for VM0047, users can:
- Define donor pools using pre-loaded geospatial datasets
- Generate project and control plots with workflow templates
- Apply Chloris’ biomass data as a stocking index for accuracy
- Compare project impact over time in a dynamic dashboard
- Export results in VM0047-compliant formats for verification
The package enables teams to apply the same rigorous methodology across all projects, reducing manual processing time, improving data consistency, and ensuring high-integrity carbon assessments - regardless of the project location or team member conducting the analysis.
This fully auditable, transparent process ensures that carbon credit calculations align with Verra’s standards and hold up to verification and regulatory scrutiny.
Scaling VM0047: A game-changer for nature-based carbon markets
The future of carbon markets depends on robust, scalable, and verifiable carbon accounting. With Earth Blox and Chloris Geospatial, organisations can:
- Conduct VM0047 assessments in hours rather than days or weeks
- Implement the VM0047 methodology at scale without in-house geospatial expertise
- Reduce costs and time-to-market for NbS projects
- Ensure data accuracy and transparency in carbon credit calculations for audits
Want to see how it works? Schedule a call here to learn more about assessing ARR projects using the VM0047 methodology with Earth Blox and Chloris Geospatial.