Microsoft has committed to purchasing 1.4 million tonnes of carbon removal credits from U.S.-based reforestation projects led by Living Carbon, a public benefit company focused on transforming degraded and underutilised land into high-quality environmental assets.
The credits will be generated through the reforestation of 25,000 acres of former mine lands in the Appalachian region—areas that have long suffered ecological and economic decline due to decades of coal mining. Many of these sites, left with poor soil quality, erosion issues, and toxic contaminants, have proven inhospitable to natural forest regeneration without intervention.
Living Carbon’s large-scale reforestation initiative aims to restore forest cover on these damaged landscapes, employing native tree species and extensive site rehabilitation. Alongside verified carbon removal, the projects are expected to yield co-benefits such as improved soil and water health, enhanced biodiversity, and renewed economic prospects for historically underserved rural communities.
“Restoring degraded mine lands offers one of the most scalable and meaningful opportunities for nature-based climate action in the United States,” said Maddie Hall, CEO and Co-founder of Living Carbon. “We’re proud to be working with Microsoft to not only address carbon removal but also bring these lands back into productivity through ecological restoration.”
Brian Marrs, Microsoft’s Senior Director for Energy & Carbon Removal, noted: “Living Carbon’s work in Appalachia represents a measurable, high-impact approach to nature-based carbon removal. Supporting this project aligns with Microsoft’s commitment to a diverse and high-integrity portfolio of carbon removal solutions.”
All carbon credits under the agreement will be verified by climate technology firm Isometric, using its Reforestation Protocol, which is recognised for its scientific rigor, transparency, and advanced lifecycle assessment standards.
“This agreement shows the growing demand for scientifically rigorous, technology-enabled verification in reforestation,” said Lukas May OBE, Chief Commercial Officer at Isometric.
Living Carbon’s model is designed to scale across millions of acres of degraded land, turning long-standing environmental liabilities into productive climate assets—delivering benefits for the climate, ecosystems, and communities alike.
