Chestnut Carbon, a U.S.-based developer of nature-based carbon removal projects, has completed its third afforestation planting season, bringing its total to over 17 million trees planted across more than 30,000 acres in the Southeastern United States. The Chestnut Sustainable Restoration Project now spans more than twice the land area of Manhattan and is the largest afforestation project in the U.S. listed on the Gold Standard® registry.
Founded in 2022, Chestnut focuses on establishing durable, native forest ecosystems and adheres to the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) standards for sustainable forest management. It is also the first U.S.-based afforestation initiative to be verified through FSC’s Verified Impact programme for Biodiversity Conservation.
The reforested lands are expected to generate a range of environmental benefits, including improved water and air quality and enhanced habitats for regional wildlife. Chestnut’s partnerships with local organisations, including ArborGen Nursery for seedling supply and DDK Forestry & Real Estate for consulting services, further embed the project within local communities.
In central Arkansas, where 11% of the project’s land is located, Chestnut has joined the Morrilton Chamber of Commerce and the Conway County Economic Development Corporation. The project has contributed to the regional economy by generating dozens of full-time and seasonal jobs.
“We’re very pleased to continue the consistent planting and growth of the Chestnut Restoration Project,” said Sarah Ford, Chief Forestry Officer at Chestnut. “This milestone of 30,000 acres planted is a major step toward our 2030 goal of reforesting hundreds of thousands of acres, revitalising underperforming land with a long-term vision for environmental and community impact.”
Chestnut is currently undergoing Gold Standard certification for the project, which will enable the generation of verified carbon credits. These credits are being sold through long-term offtake agreements with major corporate buyers, including Microsoft—who has committed to purchase nearly 8 million tonnes of carbon removals over 25 years—and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team.
Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard, said: “This milestone is a strong example of how the carbon market can benefit both nature and communities. Forestry and land use projects like Chestnut’s are critical for delivering high-integrity carbon removals alongside tangible environmental and social outcomes.”
