Carbon credit buyers often worry about reversals, i.e., the risk that carbon removed from the atmosphere could be released again. These concerns are especially relevant for soil carbon, where permanence is sometimes misunderstood.

In this post, we bust the most common myths around soil carbon reversals and show how Boomitra ensures integrity, monitoring, and risk mitigation—backed by data, technology, and long-term local implementation partnerships.

Q: What happens if a landowner exits the project?

A: Boomitra’s projects are structured as grouped projects, a model recognized across the carbon market that allows for flexibility and resilience. These grouped projects span hundreds or even thousands of farmers and ranchers, so if one landowner leaves, the overall climate benefit and carbon sequestration of the project remain intact. If one landowner leaves, the overall project continues to sequester carbon and maintain its environmental integrity. Because our AI- and satellite-based MRV system monitors every hectare of enrolled land, we continue tracking changes even if a landowner exits the project. Additionally, under the terms of our agreements, local implementation partners are required to replace any landowners who leave the project with new participants, ensuring the continuity and growth of the project. In addition, our local implementation partners help identify and onboard new participants, so the project remains robust and continues growing.

Q: How do you ensure landowners stick with regenerative practices long-term?

A: We design our projects with both accountability and incentives in mind. Every participating landowner signs a long-term agreement, and our carbon credit payments are distributed over a five-year vesting period. This means participants receive their credits gradually and must maintain regenerative practices to receive full payment. If they stop, they forfeit future payouts. Beyond contracts, our local partners build trusted, long-term relationships with farmers and ranchers, helping guide and support them as they make the shift to regenerative agriculture. In many cases, landowners also experience meaningful co-benefits from regenerative practices—such as improved yields, higher stocking rates, better water retention, and enhanced soil fertility—which further incentivize them to continue these practices over time.

Q: What happens if soil carbon levels don’t increase as expected?

A: Not every plot or farm will show the same results in every monitoring cycle—that’s expected in dynamic natural systems. But because Boomitra uses continuous satellite and AI-based measurement across large, diverse areas, we’re able to detect these variations early and support course correction. What matters is the net outcome at the grouped project level, and we design for long-term improvement, not short-term spikes. Farmers also receive insights through our app, helping them improve practices and outcomes over time. If a reversal occurs or a shortfall in performance is identified, our buffer mechanisms and credit reserve ensure buyers are not impacted.

Q: What about natural disasters—couldn’t they reverse the carbon stored in the soil?

A: Natural events like droughts, wildfires, and floods are real risks—but our approach is designed to reduce their impact. First, Boomitra’s projects are geographically diverse and spread across multiple regions, so a single localized disaster won’t compromise the entire portfolio or project. Second, regenerative agriculture actually improves disaster resilience. Practices like cover cropping, reduced tillage, and organic amendments increase soil organic matter, which helps retain moisture, reduce erosion, and buffer the effects of extreme weather. In other words, our projects don’t just survive climate stress—they help mitigate it.

Q: How are reversals detected?

A: Boomitra uses the first Verra-approved satellite- and AI-powered MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) system to continuously monitor enrolled lands for soil carbon changes. This groundbreaking system was the first of its kind to be validated by Verra for soil carbon measurement using remote sensing and machine learning. This technology allows us to detect reversals or unexpected losses with precision. Credit buyers have access to our Buyer Dashboard, offering near real-time transparency into carbon sequestration across projects. And if a reversal were to occur, we would notify buyers promptly and transparently.

Q: What protections are in place if there is a reversal?

A: Boomitra builds multiple layers of protection into every project. First, we contribute 11% – 25% of all verified credits to Verra’s AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) buffer pool—a shared insurance mechanism that protects against unintentional reversals. Second, we maintain our own global portfolio of soil carbon projects. If needed, Boomitra can replace reversed credits from this reserve, ensuring buyers retain the value and environmental integrity of their purchase.

Q: Can you really guarantee permanence for soil carbon?

A: Yes. Boomitra provides a 100-year durability guarantee for every carbon credit we issue. That means we commit to monitoring soil carbon levels for a full century—not just at the point of issuance, but through ongoing satellite and AI verification. Our permanence commitment is backed by Verra certification, participation in project- and registry-level buffer pools, and our ability to deliver replacement credits if required. This is how we provide true, lasting value for buyers while building long-term resilience for the planet.

Shelley Northrop

VP Marketing