Chestnut Carbon has announced the completion of its fourth planting season, doubling its Southeastern U.S. footprint to approximately 70,000 acres. The achievement marks one of the largest afforestation efforts in the United States this year, restoring native forests across a land area five times the size of Manhattan.
Since 2022, the company has planted over 46.7 million trees, with 24 million of those established during the most recent window between November 2025 and April 2026. This rapid expansion was fueled by a first-of-its-kind debt financing package secured last year, allowing the developer to scale operations across nine states, including new entries into Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The project remains the largest U.S.-based afforestation initiative on the Gold Standard® registry and is the first in the country verified through the FSC’s Verified Impact programme for Biodiversity Conservation.
“Doubling our footprint while maintaining the highest standards proves that you don’t have to sacrifice quality to achieve scale,” said Brian DiMarino, Chief Operating and Commercial Officer at Chestnut Carbon. “We’re excited to keep raising the bar for what responsible climate action looks like.”
The 2025-2026 season introduced several advanced restoration techniques and species-specific goals:
- Soil innovation: 301,000 “Funga-inoculated” trees were planted to restore soil microbiomes and accelerate carbon storage.
- Species restoration: The company established 23,000 longleaf pines in central Georgia—a species previously decimated by logging—and 469,000 fire-tolerant shortleaf pines in Arkansas.
- Waterway protection: The portfolio now covers 350 miles of waterways, where restoration efforts are improving water quality and fish habitats.
Beyond environmental benefits, the project is a significant driver of rural economic growth. Between 2022 and 2025, Chestnut’s activities supported 768 jobs and generated $48.8 million in economic output, alongside $7.4 million in tax revenues. These figures are expected to rise significantly as the company expands its regional operations in 2026.
Chestnut Carbon continues to partner with seedling suppliers like ArborGen and regional experts such as DDK Forestry to ensure all sites adhere to Forest Stewardship Council® requirements for sustainable management.
