News provided byChestnut Carbon
May 01, 2025, 09:00 ET
Announcement solidifies Chestnut as the largest U.S.-based afforestation project developer on the Gold Standard® registry
NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Chestnut Carbon (“Chestnut”), a nature-based carbon removal developer, today announced that it has completed its third afforestation planting season. Since its founding in 2022, Chestnut has planted over 17,000,000 trees on over 30,000 acres in the Southeastern U.S. The Chestnut Sustainable Restoration Project (the “Project”) now covers more than twice the area of New York’s Manhattan Island in total, anchoring its position as the largest U.S.-based afforestation project on the Gold Standard® registry.
Chestnut is distinguished among U.S. afforestation project developers with a focus on creating long-lasting, native ecosystems. The company adheres closely to Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) requirements for healthy and sustainable forest management and is the first U.S.-based project verified through FSC’s Verified Impact program for Biodiversity Conservation. By restoring land parcels to vibrant forests populated with diverse, native tree species, Chestnut maximizes the lands’ ecological value. The new forests will provide many environmental benefits, including enhanced regional water quality, improved air quality and support for wildlife populations.
Chestnut’s partnerships with local operators, including ArborGen Nursery for seedling supply and DDK Forestry & Real Estate for forestry consulting, continue to strengthen Chestnut’s ties to local communities. Chestnut recently joined the Morrilton Chamber of Commerce and Conway County Economic Development Corporation in central Arkansas, where over 3,000 acres, or 11% of the Project’s land, is located. The Project has bolstered local economies by creating valuable employment opportunities, including dozens of full-time and seasonal positions.
“We’re very pleased to continue consistent planting and growth of the Chestnut Restoration Project,” said Sarah Ford, Chief Forestry Officer at Chestnut. “30,000 acres planted is a significant step towards our goal of reforesting hundreds of thousands of acres by 2030 and this milestone highlights our commitment to revitalizing underperforming land with a long-term vision for environmental stewardship and community well-being.”
Chestnut is currently undertaking the rigorous certification process for the Project under Gold Standard to generate verified carbon credits. Credits are sold to sustainability-oriented corporations committed to decarbonization and net zero goals. Chestnut has signed offtake agreements with partners including Microsoft (nearly 8 million tonnes over a 25-year period, the largest agreement of its kind in the U.S.) and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team.
“This milestone is a fantastic illustration of how the carbon market can deliver for nature. Forestry and other land use projects have a critical role to play in delivering high-integrity carbon removals while restoring ecosystems and supporting communities.” said Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard. “At Gold Standard, we are committed to enabling projects that not only contribute to global climate goals but also drive tangible and verified impact for people and nature.”
About Chestnut Carbon
Chestnut Carbon (“Chestnut”) is a leading developer of nature-based carbon removal credits. Founded in 2022 with the support of energy-focused alternative asset manager Kimmeridge, Chestnut generates U.S.-based, high-quality forest carbon offsets that are additional and verifiable to accelerate the path to net zero across a range of industries. Chestnut uses a proprietary, technology-based approach to developing U.S. forest carbon offset projects on family-owned forestland and marginal crop and pastureland. Chestnut’s expertise is driven by an experienced team, whose diverse backgrounds include forestry, carbon regulation, environment, finance and land management. For additional information on Chestnut, its strategies and environmental stewardship, please visit https://chestnutcarbon.com/.
SOURCE Chestnut Carbon