Verra, the nonprofit leading standards for the voluntary carbon market, has announced the conclusion of its review of the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project in Cambodia (Verra Project 1748) and has reinstated the project in the Verra Registry.
The review, initiated in June 2023 following allegations from Human Rights Watch (HRW), involved Verra and validation/verification bodies (VVBs) scrutinising all project audits. It was determined that the project’s representative, Wildlife Alliance, is taking necessary steps to address the concerns raised, mitigate future risks, and improve its operations. As a result, the project is now active across all three of its registered programmes: the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Programme, Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) Programme, and Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta) Programme.
“Verra has determined that Wildlife Alliance has taken sufficient action to address the allegations, and the project has been taken off hold. To ensure human rights and community safeguards are preserved, we have also required ongoing actions and improvements to be implemented over the next year,” said Jerry Seager, Senior Director of Programme Quality, Verra
During the review, Wildlife Alliance implemented several key measures, such as updating its human rights policy in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Other actions included the development of a new Values and Ethics Policy, a Code of Conduct, and an Anti-Retaliation Policy. The organiation also enhanced free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) procedures, improved stakeholder consultations, and revamped its grievance redress mechanisms, including hiring a dedicated Conservation Communication Officer (CCO). Additionally, the Wildlife Alliance introduced new protocols for enforcing Cambodia’s Environment and Natural Resources Code.
Wildlife Alliance is expected to submit a progress report in early 2025, detailing further improvements. The full list of actions is available in Verra’s Review Report on the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project.
“Verra takes allegations of human rights abuses extremely seriously, and we are committed to ensuring all projects we certify uphold high ethical standards,” said Seager, adding, “This process is another example of Verra’s commitment to provide credible oversight and ensure greater integrity in Verra’s programmes.”