Richard Scharf is a soil scientist with over 25 years of experience in a variety of soils-related projects. His expertise includes soil carbon accounting, soil mapping, soil and groundwater flow studies, agroforestry, wildlife management, plant habitat and wetland delineations. His project management experience includes both private and public-sector projects in South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Connecticut as well as working around the world validating and verifying offset projects. He has been involved in validating several AFOLU GHG offset credit methodologies for Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and contributed to the development of two Climate Action Reserve (CAR) protocols as a Workgroup Member. Among many project validations and verifications, he helped verify the first ACR Nitrogen Reduction project, and the first ACR Rice project.
Mr. Scharf serves as a Senior Scientist for Aster Global and has been with the team for over eleven years. His duties include managing and conducting soils work for carbon offset crediting projects, auditing carbon offset crediting projects, onsite and municipal wastewater projects, stormwater projects, soil mapping and wetland delineation. Mr. Scharf is a North Carolina Licenses Soil Scientist, a Certified Professional Soil Scientist and a South Carolina Registered Soil Classifier
Project Experience:
Master of Science - Soil Fertility
Iowa State University
Bachelor of Science - Natural Resource Conservation
University of Connecticut
Aster Global staff members have been conducting third-party validations and verification since 2007 and has been accredited by ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). under ISO 14065:2007 since March of 2010. Due to strict confidentiality requirements associated with many of our current and past projects we are unable to discuss full details of projects; however, the following is a list by program of the past and current project validation/verification experience of Mr. Scharf:
| American Carbon Registry ( ACR ) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Member | GreenTrees ACRE (Advanced Carbon Restored Ecosystem) - ACR Validation/Verification-AR - Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana | 2011 |
| Team Member | Restoration of Bottomland Hardwood Forests at National Wildlife Refuges in the South Central US - ACR Verification-AR - Arkansas and Louisiana | 2012 |
| Team Member | Green Trees ACRE (Advanced Carbon Restored Ecosystem) - 2011 Verification- ACR-AR - Mississippi Valley - desktop only | 2012 |
| Team Member | GreenTrees ACRE (Advanced Carbon Restored Ecosystem) - 2012 Annual Verification- ACR-AR - Mississippi Valley - desktop only | 2013 |
| Team Member | Nitrous Oxide Reduction in Corn - ACR Validation/Verification-IFM - Michigan | 2014 |
| Team Member | Green Trees ACRE (Advanced Carbon Restored Ecosystem) - 2012.2 and 2012.3 Annual Verification - ACR-AR - Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana | 2014 |
| Team Member | Green Trees ACRE (Advanced Carbon Restored Ecosystem) - 2013 Annual Verification - ACR-AR and 2015.1 Initial - Mississippi Valley - desktop only | 2015 |
| Team Member | Tierra Resources – ACR Pre-Validation (Luling Oxidation Pond Wetland Assimilation Carbon Project) - Louisiana-desktop only | 2015 |
| Team Member | Blandin Native American Hardwoods Conservation & Carbon Sequestration Project - Minnesota | 2015 |
| Team Member | Green Trees ACRE (Advanced Carbon Restored Ecosystem) - 2015.2 Initial and Annual Verification (2014-2015 Vintages) - Mississippi Valley - desktop only | 2017 |
| Team Member | Emission Reductions in California Rice Management - California | 2017 |
| California Air Resources Board (ARB) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Member | Gualala River - ARB Desktop Review 2013 - IFM - California - desktop only | 2014 |
| Team Member | Big River/Salmon Creek - CAR 408 - Verification - annual - IFM - California - desktop only | 2014 |
| Team Member | Green Assets Middleton Avoided Conversion - ARB EA - IFM - South Carolina - desktop only | 2014 |
| Team Member | Green Assets Middleton Avoided Conversion - IFM - South Carolina - desktop only | 2014 |
| Team Member | Willits Woods - ARB EA Review for 2013 - IFM - California - desktop only | 2014 |
| Team Member | Garcia River Forest - ARB EA (1/1/2013-12/31/2013) - IFM - California - desktop only | 2015 |
| Team Member | Yurok Tribe Sustainable Forest Project - 2011 Vintages - ARB EA Review - California - desktop only | 2015 |
| Team Member | Virginia Highlands I - ARB Full Verification - IFM - New Hampshire | 2015 |
| Team Member | Willits Woods - ARB EA Review for 2014 - IFM - California - desktop only | 2015 |
| Team Member | Buckeye Forest Project - ARB Verification - IFM - California | 2015 |
| Team Member | Rips Redwoods - ARB Early Action Review 2013 - IFM - California | 2015 |
| Team Member | The Van Eck Forest - ARB Early Action - IFM - California - desktop only | 2016 |
| Team Member | Ashford III - ARB Verification - IFM - Washington | 2016 |
| Team Member | Howland Research Forest - Maine-desktop only | 2016 |
| Team Member | Alder Stream Preserve - Maine-desktop only | 2016 |
| Team Member | Finite Carbon - Lyme Grand Lake Stream IFM - Maine | 2016 |
| Team Member | Buckeye Forest Project - IFM Less-Intensive - California | 2017 |
| Team Member | Wyoming Improved Forest Management Project-ARB full verification - West Virginia | 2017 |
| Team Member | Big River/Salmon Creek Forests (ARB ID# CAFR5106; OPR ID# CAR1100) - California | 2017 |
| Team Member | Garcia River Forest - ARB Verification - California | 2017 |
| Team Member | Green Assets -Lukens Avoided Conversion Project - Annual review - North Carolina | 2017 |
| Team Member | Camp Shelby Forest Carbon Project - Mississippi | 2017 |
| British Columbia (BC) |
|---|
| CDP |
|---|
| Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) |
|---|
| Climate Action Reserve (Reserve) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Member | Blue Source-Francis Beidler Improved Forest Management Project - CAR IFM - South Carolina | 2013 |
| Team Member | Finite Carbon-Brosnan Forest - CAR Verification - IFM - South Carolina | 2013 |
| Team Member | Finite Carbon-Potlatch Moro Big Pine CE - CAR IFM - Arkansas | 2013 |
| Team Member | Finite Carbon - Berry Summit - CAR Verification - IFM - California | 2013 |
| Team Member | Finite Carbon-The Forestland Group Champion Property - CAR Verification - IFM - New York | 2014 |
| Team Member | Finite Carbon - The Forestland Group Champion project - Annual CAR Verification -IFM - New York - desktop only | 2014 |
| Team Member | Virginia Conservation Forestry Program - Clifton Farms - CAR Annual Verification (2012 and 2013) - IFM - Virginia - desktop only | 2014 |
| Team Member | Virginia Conservation Forestry Program - Rich Mountain - CAR Annual Verifications - IFM - Virginia - desktop only | 2014 |
| Team Member | Virginia Conservation Forestry Program: Tazewell-Elk Garden - CAR Annual Verification- IFM - Virginia - desktop only | 2015 |
| Team Member | Virginia Conservation Forestry Program - Clifton Farms - CAR Annual Verification - IFM - Virginia - desktop only | 2015 |
| Team Member | Garcia River Forest - Reserve Verification -annual- IFM - California | 2015 |
| Team Member | Big River/Salmon Creek Forests - Reserve Verification - annual - IFM - California | 2015 |
| Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standard | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Member | The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya, CCB-002 - CCB Validation/Verification-AR - Kenya | 2011 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya, CCB-001 - CCB Validation/Verification - Small Scale Projects (2) -AR - Kenya | 2012 |
| Team Member | Kariba REDD+ Project - CCB Validation- Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe | 2012 |
| Lead Verifier | ReddForests - CCB Validation - IFM - Zimbabwe | 2012 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya, CCB-003 - CCB Validation/Verification - ARR - Kenya | 2012 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group and Tree Planting (TIST) Program in Uganda, CC-B002 - CCB Validation Verification - ARR - Uganda | 2013 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group and Tree Planting (TIST) Program in India, CCB-001 - CCB Validation/Verification - ARR - India | 2013 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group and Tree Planting (TIST) Program in Kenya, CCB-004 - CCB Validation/Verification - ARR - Kenya | 2013 |
| Team Member | BioCarbon Partners - Lower Zambia REDD+ Project - CCBA Validation - REDD - Zambia | 2013 |
| Team Member | Buffelsdraai Landfill Site Community Reforestation Project - CCB Validation - South Africa | 2014 |
| Team Member | Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Project - CCB Verification - REDD - Indonesia | 2014 |
| Team Member | Kariba REDD+ Project - CCB Verification - REDD+ - Zimbabwe | 2014 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Uganda, CCB-001 - CCB Verification - ARR - Uganda | 2014 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya, CCB-003 - CCB Verification - ARR - Kenya | 20114 |
| ISO | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Member | Algoma Highlands Conservancy IFM Project - ISO14064-2 Validation/Verification - Ontario | 2014 |
| Team Member | Ontario Biodiversity Afforestation Project - ISO Validation and Verification/CCB Pre-Validation - OBAP-AR - Canada | 2014 |
| ISO / Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standard | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Member | Ontario Biodiversity Afforestation Project - ISO Validation and Verification/CCB Pre-Validation - OBAP-AR - Canada | 2014 |
| Natural Forest Standard (NFS) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Member | Trocano Araretama Conservation Project - Natural Forest Standard Validation/Verification-AD - Brazil | 2013 |
| Team Member | Trocano Araretama Conservation Project - Natural Forest Standard Annual Verification - AD - Brazil - desktop only | 2014 |
| PLAN VIVO | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Member | Sofala Community Carbon Project - Plan Vivo Verification/Opinion Letter - Mozambique - desktop only | 2013 |
| Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Member | "Validation - The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya, VCS-003 - VCS Validation/Verification - A/R Verification - The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya, VCS-001 Verification - The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya, VCS-002 Verification - The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya, VCS-003 Verification - The International Small Group & Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya, VCS-004 " - Kenya | 2011 |
| Team Member | Quantifying N2O Emissions Reductions in US Agricultural Crops through N Fertilizer Rate Reduction - VCS Methodology Validation - Desktop Only | 2011 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group and Tree Planning Program (TIST) in Kenya, VCS-005 - VCS Validation/Verification - AR - Kenya | 2011 |
| Team Member | Methodology for Soil Carbon - VCS Methodology Validation - Desktop Only | 2012 |
| Team Member | Methodology for Sustainable Grassland Management - VCS Methodology Validation - Desktop Only | 2012 |
| Team Member | Kariba REDD Project - VCS Validation - Zimbabwe | 2012 |
| Team Member | Lower Mississippi Valley Grouped Afforestation Project - VCS Validation - A - Mississippi | 2012 |
| Team Member | Methodology for Avoided Deforestation (Revised VM0009) - VCS 2nd Methodology Assessment - Desktop Only | 2012 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya, VCS-006 - VCS Validation/Verification - ARR - Kenya | 2012 |
| Team Member | April Salumei REDD Project - VCS Validation/Verification - REDD - New Guinea | 2013 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Uganda, VCS-005 - VCS Validation/Verification - ARR - Uganda | 2013 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Uganda, VCS-006 - VCS Validation/Verification - ARR - Uganda | 2013 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST) in India, VCS-001 - VCS Validation/Verification - ARR - India | 2013 |
| Team Member | Methodology for Coastal Wetland Creation - VCS Methodology Validation - 1st assessment - Desktop Only | 2013 |
| Team Member | The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST) in Kenya VCS-009 - VCS Validation/Verification - ARR - Kenya | 2013 |
| Team Member | Reforesting Degraded Lands in Chile Through the Use of Mycorrhizal Inoculation - VCS Validation/Verification - ARR - Chile | 2013 |
| Team Member | Kariba REDD+ Project - VCS Verification - REDD - Zimbabwe | 2013 |
| Team Member | "Forests Alive - VCS Verification - IFM Protection of a Tasmanian Native Forest - Project 3 Peter Downie Grouped Project - Protection of a Tasmanian Native Forest Protection of a Tasmanian Forest (Project 1: REDD Forests' Pilot)" - Tasmania | 2013 |
| Team Member | CarbonCo Envira Amazonia Project - VCS Pre Validation - AD - Desktop Only | 2013 |
| Team Member | Avoiding Planned Deforestation and Degradation in the Valdivian Coastal Reserve, Chile - VCS Validation/Verification - REDD - Chile | 2014 |
| Team Member | RIL-C IFM Methodology (Reduced Impact Logging Practices to Reduce Carbon Emissions) and RIL-C East Kalimantan Performance Method Module - VCS 1st Methodology Validation - Desktop Only | 2014 |
| Team Member | Abote Project - VCS Pre-Validation-ARR - Wisconsin - desktop only | 2014 |
| Team Member | Adoption of Sustainable Grassland Management Through Adjustment of Fire and Grazing - VCS New Methodology Element Verification - Desktop Only | 2015 |
| Team Member | VM0007 REDD Methodology Modules (Revision to) - VCS Methodology Validation - REDD - Desktop Only | 2015 |
| Team Member | Bethlehem Authority Improved Forest Management Project - VCS Verification - IFM - Pennsylvania-desktop only | 2015 |
| Team Member | Methodology for Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration - First Assessment Report - Desktop Only | 2015 |
| Team Member | Revision of Methodology VM0010-Methodology for Improved Forest Management: Conversion from Logged to Protected Forest, V1.7 - First Assessment - n/a - desktop only | 2016 |
| Team Member | Lock Haven Improved Forest Management Project - Pennsylvania | 2016 |
| Team Member | Bethlehem Authority Improved Forest Management Project - VCS Annual Verification - IFM - Pennsylvania - desktop only | 2017 |
| Team Member | Katingan Peatland Restoration and Conservation - Indonesia | 2017 |
| Team Member | Methodology for Avoided Mosaic Deforestation of Tropical Semi-Arid Forests - VCS Methodology Validation - Desktop Only | |
| Team Member | Methodology for Avoided Ecosystem Conversion VM0009, v3.0 (revision) - VCS Methodology 1st Validation - Desktop Only | |
| Team Member | Restoration of Degraded Areas and Reforestation in Caceres and Cravo Norte, Colombia - VCS Validation/Verification and CCB Validation/Verification - Colombia | 2011 |
| Team Member | Sustainable Agriculture in Changing Climate (SACC) Project - Western Kenya - VCS/CCB Validation - ARR - Kenya | 2013 |
| Team Member | "CCB-Kasigau Corridor REDD Project Phases I & II VCS-The Kasigau Corridor REDD Project Phase II - The Community Ranches VCS/CCB Verification - REDD" - Kenya | 2013 |
| Team Member | New Leaf Carbon Project - VCS/CCB Validation/Verification - IFM - Tasmania | 2013 |
| Team Member | Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Project - VCS Verification - REDD - Indonesia | 2013 |
| Team Member | Laguna Seca Forest Carbon Project - Belize | 2013 |
| Team Member | C4 - VCS/CCB Validation - AR - South Africa | 2014 |
| Team Member | Purus Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification (2nd monitoring) - REDD - Brazil | 2014 |
| Team Member | Russas Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Validation - REDD - Brazil | 2014 |
| Team Member | Russas Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification - 1st monitoring - REDD - Brazil | 2014 |
| Team Member | Valparaiso Project - A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Validation - REDD - Brazil | 2014 |
| Team Member | Valparaiso Project - A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification - REDD - Brazil | 2014 |
| Team Member | Purus Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification (3rd monitoring) - REDD - Brazil | 2015 |
| Team Member | The Envira Amazonia Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Validation - REDD - Brazil | 2015 |
| Team Member | Alto Mayo Conservation Initiative - VCS/CCB Verification - Peru | 2015 |
| Team Member | Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Project Verification Report - Indonesia | 2015 |
| Team Member | Purus Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification (4th monitoring) - REDD - Brazil | 2016 |
| Team Member | The Envira Amazonia Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification - REDD - Brazil | 2016 |
| Team Member | Purus Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification - REDD - Brazil | |
| Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standard | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Member | Restoration of Degraded Areas and Reforestation in Caceres and Cravo Norte, Colombia - VCS Validation/Verification and CCB Validation/Verification - Colombia | 2011 |
| Team Member | Sustainable Agriculture in Changing Climate (SACC) Project - Western Kenya - VCS/CCB Validation - ARR - Kenya | 2013 |
| Team Member | "CCB-Kasigau Corridor REDD Project Phases I & II VCS-The Kasigau Corridor REDD Project Phase II - The Community Ranches VCS/CCB Verification - REDD" - Kenya | 2013 |
| Team Member | New Leaf Carbon Project - VCS/CCB Validation/Verification - IFM - Tasmania | 2013 |
| Team Member | Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Project - VCS Verification - REDD - Indonesia | 2013 |
| Team Member | Laguna Seca Forest Carbon Project - Belize | 2013 |
| Team Member | C4 - VCS/CCB Validation - AR - South Africa | 2014 |
| Team Member | Purus Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification (2nd monitoring) - REDD - Brazil | 2014 |
| Team Member | Russas Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Validation - REDD - Brazil | 2014 |
| Team Member | Russas Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification - 1st monitoring - REDD - Brazil | 2014 |
| Team Member | Valparaiso Project - A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Validation - REDD - Brazil | 2014 |
| Team Member | Valparaiso Project - A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification - REDD - Brazil | 2014 |
| Team Member | Purus Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification (3rd monitoring) - REDD - Brazil | 2015 |
| Team Member | The Envira Amazonia Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Validation - REDD - Brazil | 2015 |
| Team Member | Alto Mayo Conservation Initiative - VCS/CCB Verification - Peru | 2015 |
| Team Member | Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Project Verification Report - Indonesia | 2015 |
| Team Member | Purus Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification (4th monitoring) - REDD - Brazil | 2016 |
| Team Member | The Envira Amazonia Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification - REDD - Brazil | 2016 |
| Team Member | Purus Project – A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil - VCS/CCB Verification - REDD - Brazil | |
