Documentation

This page lists every site type Certify supports, grouped by protocol. Your project only has the site types belonging to its protocol and protocol version. For how to add sites, see Add sites.

Overview

Each site type below is described by the following attributes.

Attribute	Meaning
Key	The identifier used in the API and in exports.
Geography	How the site is located, which determines the upload format. Area takes a Polygon or MultiPolygon in GeoJSON, Point takes a latitude and longitude in CSV, and None means the site has no geometry of its own and is defined by the sites it contains.
Overlapping geometry	Whether two sites of this type are allowed to overlap one another. Only shown for sites with an area geography.
Validation requirements	Whether the site carries its own set of validation requirements that your VVB reviews. Validatable sites have a Requirements tab and can have issues raised against them. The value is the category of requirements.
Upload	How the site is added in Certify, followed by the CSV columns or GeoJSON feature properties expected for the type. Always download the template from Certify rather than copying these by hand, since they follow your protocol version.
Metadata	The extra fields defined for the type, with a description where the protocol gives one. Fields with allowed values must use one of those values exactly.
Links	The other assets this type connects to. Explicit links are ones you provide, by naming the related asset’s reference ID or by uploading children as part of the parent’s Add flow. Spatial matching links are made by Certify from the geometry.
Measurement samples	The measurement sample types that can be recorded at the site.

Every site type also takes a name and a reference_id, both required and not repeated in the tables below. See Supplier Reference ID.

Reforestation

Site types for projects using the Reforestation protocol. Protocol versions: v1.1–1.2 Site types are organised in the following hierarchy.

Project area
└── Field
    └── Field plot

Project area

A project area includes one or more fields managed in the same way. Each project area must cover at least one hectare and contain field plots where tree measurements are taken to quantify or validate the above-ground biomass (AGB) at each reporting period. CDR quantification is carried out per project area. If your project area includes fields where either (i) different species mixes are planted or (ii) trees are planted at different times, each of these (set of) fields must be provided as a separate feature in your GeoJSON upload. Please include additional properties on each feature to indicate how these fields should be grouped, so Certify can associate them correctly.


Key	`reforestation_project_area`
Geography	None
Validation requirements	Yes — `project_area`
Upload	Name and reference ID entered in Certify, with the GeoJSON for its fields
Metadata	None

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Field	One to many	Explicit

Field

A land area within a project area which is planted at the same time and with the same species mix.


Key	`reforestation_field`
Geography	Area
Overlapping geometry	Not allowed
Validation requirements	No
Upload	GeoJSON, from the project area’s Add flow
GeoJSON properties	`name`, `reference_id`
Metadata	None

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Project area	One to many	Explicit
contains	Field plot	One to many	Spatial matching

Field plot

Field plots are areas within fields where tree parameters are measured to quantify above-ground biomass (AGB). Each field plot must have a unique reference ID, so that tree measurements can be linked to the right plot.


Key	`reforestation_field_plot`
Geography	Area
Overlapping geometry	Allowed
Validation requirements	No
Upload	GeoJSON
GeoJSON properties	`name`, `reference_id`
Metadata	None

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Field	One to many	Spatial matching
location of	Field plot measurement	One to one	Explicit, on the activity

Improved Forest Management

Site types for projects using the Improved Forest Management protocol. Protocol versions: v1.0–1.1 Site types are organised in the following hierarchy.

Project area
└── Site
    └── Parcel
        └── Field plot

Project area

A project area consists of several sites where improved management practices are applied to forested land to increase carbon stocks.


Key	`ifm_project_area`
Geography	None
Validation requirements	Yes — `project_area`
Upload	Name and reference ID entered in Certify
Metadata	None

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Site	One to many	Explicit
location of	Sampling round	One to many	Explicit, on the activity

Site

A group of land parcels that are considered together for the purposes of AGB quantification. All Sites must be greater than 10 hectares.


Key	`ifm_site`
Geography	None
Validation requirements	No
Upload	Name and reference ID entered in Certify, with the GeoJSON for its parcels
Metadata	None

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Project area	One to many	Explicit
contains	Parcel	One to many	Explicit

Parcel

Land parcels (discrete areas of land as defined by town, county, or regional tax maps) and/or eligible portions of enrolled mixed-use land parcels, net of excluded areas. All parcels must have road or navigable waterway access.


Key	`ifm_parcel`
Geography	Area
Overlapping geometry	Not allowed
Validation requirements	No
Upload	GeoJSON, from the site’s Add flow
GeoJSON properties	`name`, `reference_id`, `enrollment_date`, `purchase_date`, `parcel_class`

Metadata

Enrollment date

date

required

Format: yyyy-mm-dd, for example 2026-01-01.

Purchase date

date

Format: yyyy-mm-dd, for example 2026-01-01.

Parcel class

string

A free-text label specifying the parcel class, required for projects using the deferred harvest module only.

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Site	One to many	Explicit
contains	Field plot	One to many	Spatial matching
location of	Harvest	One to many	Explicit, on the activity

Field plot

Field plots are demarcated areas where tree parameters are measured to quantify above-ground biomass (AGB). Each field plot must have a unique reference ID, so that tree measurements can be linked to the right plot.


Key	`agb_field_plot`
Geography	Area
Overlapping geometry	Allowed
Validation requirements	No
Upload	GeoJSON
GeoJSON properties	`name`, `reference_id`
Metadata	None

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Parcel	One to many	Spatial matching
location of	Field plot measurement	One to many	Explicit, on the activity

Bio-oil Geological Storage

Site types for projects using the Bio-oil Geological Storage protocol. Protocol versions: v1.0–1.2

Bio-oil facility

A facility where bio-oil is produced from biomass feedstocks by pyrolysis or similar process.


Key	`bio_oil_production_facility`
Geography	Point
Validation requirements	Yes — `facility`
Upload	CSV
CSV columns	`name`, `reference_id`, `latitude`, `longitude`
Metadata	None

Improved Soil Management

Site types for projects using the Improved Soil Management protocol. Protocol versions: v1.0 Site types are organised in the following hierarchy.

Project area
└── Crop field
    └── Measurement location
Laboratory

Project area

A set of fields used to quantify carbon removal and reductions after applying improved soil management practices to increase soil organic carbon stocks. It includes intervention fields, where interventions have been applied, and control fields for comparison.


Key	`soil_carbon_project_area`
Geography	None
Validation requirements	Yes — `project_area`
Upload	Name and reference ID entered in Certify, with the GeoJSON for its crop fields
Metadata	None

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Crop field	Many to many	Explicit
location of	Soil sampling campaign	One to many	Explicit, on the activity

Crop field

Fields where crops are grown and interventions to increase soil organic carbon are applied.


Key	`croplands_field`
Geography	Area
Overlapping geometry	Not allowed
Validation requirements	No
Upload	GeoJSON, from the project area’s Add flow
GeoJSON properties	`name`, `reference_id`, `enrollment_date`, `plot_type`, `stratum`

Metadata

Enrollment date

date

required

Format: yyyy-mm-dd, for example 2026-01-01.

Plot type

string

required

Allowed values: intervention, control

Stratum

string

required

The stratum to which the field belongs, which is used to group fields for quantification. The set of strata is defined by the project developer and should be based on factors that affect soil carbon stocks, such as soil type, climate, and management practices.

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Project area	Many to many	Explicit
contains	Measurement location	One to many	Spatial matching
location of	Intervention	One to many	Explicit, on the activity
location of	Harvest	One to many	Explicit, on the activity

Measurement location

Each measurement location is a recorded latitude and longitude where a soil sample was collected. Soil sample data can only be uploaded once measurement locations have been added. Each sample must be linked to one of these uploaded measurement locations.


Key	`soil_carbon_measurement_location`
Geography	Point
Validation requirements	No
Upload	CSV
CSV columns	`name`, `reference_id`, `latitude`, `longitude`
Metadata	None

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Crop field	One to many	Spatial matching
location of	Soil sample collection	One to many	Explicit, on the activity

Laboratory

A laboratory where soil samples are analyzed.


Key	`soil_carbon_laboratory`
Geography	Point
Validation requirements	No
Upload	CSV
CSV columns	`name`, `reference_id`, `latitude`, `longitude`
Metadata	None

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
location of	Laboratory batch analysis	One to many	Explicit, on the activity

Enhanced Weathering in Agriculture

Site types for projects using the Enhanced Weathering in Agriculture protocol. Protocol versions: v1.0–1.2 Site types are organised in the following hierarchy.

Removal area
└── Field
    └── Measurement location

Removal area

A removal area is a set of plots within the project area used to quantify weathering after spreading rock and mineral feedstock. It includes treatment and (if using the 3-plot model) deployment plots where feedstock was spread, as well as control plots without feedstock for comparison.


Key	`removal_area`
Geography	None
Validation requirements	Yes — `removal_area`
Upload	Name and reference ID entered in Certify, with the GeoJSON for its fields
Metadata	None

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Field	Many to many	Explicit

Field

An agricultural field where feedstock is applied.


Key	`enhanced_weathering_field`
Geography	Area
Overlapping geometry	Not allowed
Validation requirements	No
Upload	GeoJSON, from the removal area’s Add flow
GeoJSON properties	`name`, `reference_id`, `plot_type`

Metadata

Plot type

string

required

Allowed values: control, treatment, deployment, research

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Removal area	Many to many	Explicit
contains	Measurement location	One to many	Spatial matching

Measurement location

A measurement location is a recorded latitude and longitude where a sample was collected. For example, this could be where a soil core was extracted or an ion exchange resin device was installed. You can bulk upload measurement locations here. Sample data (e.g. from soil, biomass, pore-water, or an ion exchange resin) can only be uploaded once measurement locations have been added. Each sample must be linked to one of these uploaded measurement locations.


Key	`measurement_location`
Geography	Point
Validation requirements	No
Upload	CSV
CSV columns	`name`, `reference_id`, `latitude`, `longitude`
Metadata	None
Measurement samples	Soil (`ew_soil`), Biomass (`ew_field_biomass`), Porewater (`ew_porewater`), Ion exchange resin (`ew_ion_exchange_resin`)

Relationship	Related type	Cardinality	Link creation
contains	Field	One to many	Spatial matching

Overview

Certify

Registry

AI

Sites reference

Overview

Reforestation

Project area

Field

Field plot

Improved Forest Management

Project area

Site

Parcel

Field plot

Bio-oil Geological Storage

Bio-oil facility

Improved Soil Management

Project area

Crop field

Measurement location

Laboratory

Enhanced Weathering in Agriculture

Removal area

Field

Measurement location

​Overview

​Reforestation

​Project area

​Field

​Field plot

​Improved Forest Management

​Project area

​Site

​Parcel

​Field plot

​Bio-oil Geological Storage

​Bio-oil facility

​Improved Soil Management

​Project area

​Crop field

​Measurement location

​Laboratory

​Enhanced Weathering in Agriculture

​Removal area

​Field

​Measurement location

Overview

Reforestation

Project area

Field

Field plot

Improved Forest Management

Project area

Site

Parcel

Field plot

Bio-oil Geological Storage

Bio-oil facility

Improved Soil Management

Project area

Crop field

Measurement location

Laboratory

Enhanced Weathering in Agriculture

Removal area

Field

Measurement location