Carbon methodologies are like the rule of law — precise in wording, yet reliant on interpretation. When Verra, the world’s largest carbon standard, updated its ARR methodology, a new interpretation suddenly put smallholder farmers’ tree planting efforts at risk.
In order to prevent double counting, Verra ruled that overlapping “buffer areas” could no longer earn carbon credits. The change, however, unintentionally threatened thousands of smallholders planting trees in close proximity along neighbouring fields.
Many feared the issue was too niche for Verra to address. But members of The Art of Forests had something that other small developers lacked: a global community of practitioners ready to act together. When the change was announced, members collaborated to share concerns and questions; approaching Verra not with confrontation, but with dialogue.
For iTeraka, an AoF member organisation, the issue was urgent — farmers’ incomes and community harmony were at stake. Through AoF, iTeraka worked with data from TIST, another member, to show how the interpretation could harm livelihoods.
The Art of Forests coordinated constructive conversations with Verra, and iTeraka presented a case study highlighting the risks. Verra listened — and clarified its interpretation. Smallholder edge planting remained eligible for carbon credits, safeguarding the income of tens of thousands of farmers worldwide.
“Without The Art of Forests, we might have faced costly deviations or conflicts between farmers. Instead, we discussed the interpretation and came to a shared understanding in the context of an actual project benefiting smallholders globally.”
— Mathieu Rahm, iTeraka
This outcome reflects what The Art of Forests stands for: open dialogue, shared purpose, and collective action, realising better outcomes for nature and people over commercial competition.