The Symbiosis Coalition, comprising Google, McKinsey, and Meta, has signed significant offtake agreements with Living Carbon to advance large-scale reforestation in the United States. Under the ten-year deal, the coalition members have contracted the removal of 131,240 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CDR) from the atmosphere.
The partnership focuses on revitalising degraded and marginal lands within the Appalachian region, particularly areas previously impacted by decades of coal mining. Currently, the U.S. holds approximately 1.6 million acres of abandoned mine lands and 30 million acres of abandoned agricultural land. These territories often suffer from toxic metal content, soil erosion, and invasive species that hinder natural forest regeneration.
Living Carbon, a public benefit company, will plant native hardwood and pine species across these sites. The project employs intensive site preparation and invasive species control to restore vital habitats, improve water quality, and enhance local biodiversity.
The initiative also provides economic support to local communities and landowners. Partners receive lease payments for otherwise unproductive land, while local workers gain employment opportunities. Notably, the project repurposes traditional mining tools and equipment for ecological recovery efforts.
This agreement marks the second project announced under the Symbiosis Coalition’s initial Request for Proposals. It represents a key step toward the group’s broader target of contracting more than 20 million tonnes of nature-based carbon removal credits by 2030. Living Carbon will also become the first project under the coalition to be registered via Isometric’s Reforestation Protocol.
