Methodology

SCIENTIFIC RIGOUR AND TRANSPARENCY ON UNCERTAINTIES

TORA applies a versioned, documented and publicly accessible carbon methodology. Phase 1 uncertainties are explicitly quantified, not concealed.

Current phase

Impact contributions, uncertified

In Phase 1, TORA commercialises impact contributions, not certified carbon credits. This distinction is fundamental and non-negotiable in all our communications.

An impact contribution is based on a documented scientific estimate of carbon storage potential, without the independent third-party verification that certification entails. It is a conservation pre-financing instrument, not a carbon credit in the strict sense.

This position is deliberately conservative: we prefer to under-promise and over-deliver rather than overvalue assets still under validation.

Required terminology

  • Correct "estimated tonnes of CO2e"
  • Correct "uncertified impact contributions"
  • Correct "estimated carbon potential"
  • Avoid "carbon credits" (implies certification)
  • Avoid "offset tonnes" (implies verification)

Data infrastructure

Sources and tools

OTIA cadastre

176,072 georeferenced parcels covering the entirety of French Polynesia. PostGIS database with parcel identifiers, property rights and geometries.

Sentinel-2 (NDVI)

ESA satellite imagery, 10 m resolution, 5-day revisit cycle. The NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) characterises vegetation density and condition by parcel.

Field inventories

Field data collection via KoBoToolbox (standardised form, 16 questions), Raraka mission planned. Field data calibrates and validates satellite-based estimates.

Transparency on uncertainties

What we do not yet know

±30%

TBA coefficients (Terrain, Biology, Actors)

The NDVI-to-tCO2e conversion coefficients for Polynesian coconut groves do not yet have field-validated values. The ±30% uncertainty reflects the reasonable range prior to calibration on real-world data.

These coefficients will be refined after the Raraka field mission. All communicated estimates include this uncertainty range.

v1.0

Versioned carbon calculation

The carbon calculation engine is versioned (currently v1.0). Any update to coefficients or methodology results in a new version and explicit communication to prior contribution buyers.

Roadmap

Towards Plan Vivo certification

2026, Phase 1 in progress

Uncertified impact contributions

Pilot mandates, Raraka inventories, carbon calculation v1.0, first CSR buyers.

2026–2027

Plan Vivo application dossier

Consolidation of field data, academic partnership for scientific validation (UPF, IRD), dossier preparation.

2027–2028 (target)

Plan Vivo certification

Third-party audit, methodological validation, programme registration. Contributions become certified carbon credits.

The carbon contributions presented are uncertified estimates. Plan Vivo certification is targeted for 2027–2028.