How do Acorn projects differ from other PV Climate projects? Expand A list of the key differences between Acorn and PV Climate projects is provided below: Attribute Acorn project PV Climate project Intervention types Smallholder Agroforestry only Most nature-based interventions (land or marine) Projects certified against Acorn Framework and Methodology PV Climate Project Requirements, Validation and Verification Requirements, and the applied methodology Certificates generated CRUs – Ex-post certificates Represent CO2 removals fPVCs – Ex-ante certificates (non-retireable) rPVCs – Ex-post certificates (non-retireable) vPVCs – Ex-post verified certificates Can represent removals or reduction of CO2 Project coordinator Rabobank and local partner organisation(s) Local partner organisation(s) Certificate Seller Rabobank Local partner organisation Auditing Projects sample validation and verification using a Plan Vivo-approved sampling strategy All projects validated and verified Benefit sharing At least 80% of income from CRU sales to local farmers At least 60% of income from PVC sales to project participants Registry Acorn Registry Plan Vivo Registry
What is a CRU? Expand A CRU (Acorn's Carbon Removal Unit) represents actual carbon stored in planted trees. Only after trees have converted carbon into biomass is an Acorn CRU sold. This is measured on a smallholder farmer's land with the help of remote sensing technology i.e. satellite imagery. Issued and retired CRUs are listed on the Acorn registry.
What is Acorn? Expand Acorn (Agroforestry CRUs for the Organic Restoration of Nature) is a Rabobank initiative with an aim to increase the accessibility of the international voluntary carbon market for smallholder farmers in the developing world. Plan Vivo acts as Acorn’s certifying partner, which primarily involves: Approving the Acorn Framework and Methodology based on Plan Vivo’s best practice Overseeing the implementation of Acorn and review process of projects. More information about Acorn can be found on Plan Vivo’s Acorn Page or the Rabobank website.