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- Major Milestone: Chestnut Carbon has planted over 17 million trees on 30,000+ acres since 2022—now the largest U.S.-based afforestation project listed on the Gold Standard® registry.
- Verified Ecosystem Impact: First U.S. afforestation project verified by FSC’s Biodiversity Conservation program, ensuring long-term ecological and carbon removal integrity.
- Corporate Backing Secured: Chestnut holds major offtake deals, including Microsoft’s 25-year, 8 million tonne carbon credit agreement—the largest of its kind in the U.S.
Chestnut Carbon has planted more than 17 million trees across 30,000 acres in the Southeastern U.S., completing its third afforestation season and establishing the largest afforestation project in the U.S. listed on the Gold Standard® registry.
The Chestnut Sustainable Restoration Project now spans more than twice the land area of Manhattan. The company’s approach centers on long-term carbon removal and ecological recovery through the restoration of native, biodiverse forests.
“30,000 acres planted is a significant step towards our goal of reforesting hundreds of thousands of acres by 2030,” said Sarah Ford, Chief Forestry Officer at Chestnut. “This milestone highlights our commitment to revitalizing underperforming land with a long-term vision for environmental stewardship and community well-being.”
Chestnut’s practices align with Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) standards and it is the first U.S. project verified under FSC’s Verified Impact program for Biodiversity Conservation. The initiative yields measurable environmental benefits including improved air and water quality and increased wildlife habitat.
RELATED ARTICLE: Chestnut Carbon Secures $160M to Expand U.S. Afforestation Projects and Carbon Removal Efforts
“This milestone is a fantastic illustration of how the carbon market can deliver for nature,” said Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard. “Forestry and other land use projects have a critical role to play in delivering high-integrity carbon removals while restoring ecosystems and supporting communities.”
The project also provides local economic value, with over 3,000 acres—11% of the total—located in Arkansas. Partnerships with local businesses like ArborGen Nursery and DDK Forestry & Real Estate have supported full-time and seasonal employment while integrating Chestnut into community networks such as the Morrilton Chamber of Commerce.
Chestnut is currently undergoing Gold Standard certification to generate verified carbon credits. It has already signed long-term offtake agreements with major climate-forward organizations, including:
- Microsoft, for nearly 8 million tonnes of carbon credits over 25 years—the largest U.S. agreement of its kind
- Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team
These partnerships signal growing demand for high-quality, nature-based removals amid rising pressure for net-zero delivery across industries.
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