Brazil's Cerrado Project Makes History with First Carbon Credits Issuance!

The Brazil Cerrado 1 project (Verra Project 5511) has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the inaugural initiative to receive approval for carbon credit issuance utilizing Verra’s afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR) methodology, VM0047, v1.0. This project is now eligible to issue 230,120 Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) to bolster its efforts across the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, and Minas Gerais. Jointly registered with both the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) Programs, the Brazil Cerrado 1 initiative focuses on restoring degraded cattle pasture that had previously undergone repeated cycles of deforestation. This is achieved through a combination of native ecosystem restoration and sustainable forest management practices certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Currently, 24,119 hectares are managed under this project, with more than 15 million trees planted and 505 different species identified within this rich biodiversity hotspot. The project places a strong emphasis on community involvement, including a native seed collection program that offers training and generates meaningful income for local residents. During its initial 20-year crediting timeframe, the project is projected to remove around 7.0 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent from the atmosphere—approximately 351,328 tonnes annually—and restore up to 25,000 hectares of forest cover. In doing so, it aims