GreenTrees Reforestation Project in America

This project contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, delivering measurable environmental and social outcomes.

Project details

The GreenTrees Reforestation Project is an ambitious initiative to restore the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), one of North America’s most ecologically significant regions. By planting and protecting native tree species on former agricultural land, the project strengthens biodiversity and delivers vital ecosystem services. Since 2008, more than 54,000 hectares have been reforested, with a long-term goal of restoring 1 million hectares.

Through carbon sequestration in trees and soil, the project has already removed 7.8 million tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere. It is the only US-based carbon reforestation initiative with substantial verified carbon credit issuances and a proven record of climate impact.

About the project

The Mississippi Alluvial Valley has experienced severe deforestation, threatening biodiversity and accelerating climate change. The GreenTrees project addresses these challenges by restoring native forests, capturing carbon, and promoting sustainable land use practices.

Partnering with more than 600 landowners, the project offers a financially viable alternative to conventional agriculture. Trees are planted on degraded farmland using scientifically backed silviculture techniques, ensuring long-term forest health.

Reforestation and sustainable forestry management 

GreenTrees employs an innovative forestry model, combining fast-growing cottonwoods with native hardwoods to accelerate carbon sequestration and habitat restoration: 

• Cottonwoods act as “nurse trees”, growing rapidly (8–12 feet per year) to provide shade and enhance biodiversity. 
• Over time, the forest transitions to a diverse, native hardwood ecosystem, ensuring long-term stability. 
• The USDA Bottomland Hardwood Research Center contributed to the project’s design, reinforcing its ecological integrity. 

A limited, sustainable harvesting approach is permitted to manage tree crowding and ensure forest health: 

• At Year 10: Landowners may harvest 33% of cottonwoods
• At Year 17: Up to 50% may be harvested
• By Year 25: All remaining cottonwoods are removed, leaving a mature hardwood forest

Importantly, carbon credits are only issued for the first 15 years, ensuring that long-term forestry practices maintain or exceed initial carbon stocks. This guarantees that future harvesting does not compromise the project’s climate benefits. 

Calculation of GHG emission removals 

The GreenTrees project is a 100% removal project, meaning only carbon directly removed from the atmosphere is accounted for in carbon credit generation. The project is registered with the American Carbon Registry (ACR) and follows the ACR Methodology for Afforestation and Reforestation of Degraded Land, and a carbon stock model is used to calculate GHG emission removals. 

A portion of verified emission removals is deposited into the ACR Buffer Pool as a safeguard against unforeseen risks. 

Permanence – risk of reversal 

The GreenTrees project is the largest reforestation project in North America, covering over 133,000 acres. Using the ACR risk rating tool, approximately 16.6% of the carbon stored (including soil carbon) is transferred to the ACR risk buffer pool. 

Risks such as wildfires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and pests have been modelled, ensuring long-term stability. 

A leading parametric insurance underwriter assessed the project’s reversal risk at just 0.2%, significantly lower than ACR’s required 16.6%. 

Programmatic aggregation 

GreenTrees aggregates all carbon assets across the Mississippi Alluvial Valley and Southeastern US into a carbon credit pool, which functions as an insurance mechanism against reversals. This programmatic aggregation approach provides an additional safeguard, ensuring secure investment in high-quality carbon credits. 

Notably, GreenTrees has never had a reversal in its 20-year history and has contributed 1.2 million mtCO₂ of buffered credits to ACR’s buffer pool. 

Building the world’s largest pipeline of quality carbon removals 

The GreenTrees reforestation project is the world’s largest reforestation project by total carbon credits issued. As a programmatic aggregated project, new tree plantings generate carbon credits over a 40-year period. 

Continuous investment flows back into the project to expand the world’s largest pipeline of high-quality carbon removals. The project is validated to continue planting until 2047, with a carbon credit issuance timeline extending to 2086.  Even if no further land is planted, an additional 30 million tonnes of CO₂ is projected to be removed by 2063. 

Quality criteria

All Anthesis-supported carbon removal projects undergo independent verification to confirm permanent carbon storage and measurable environmental benefits. Projects must demonstrate alignment with UN SDGs 12, 13, and 15, promote soil and ecosystem health, and deliver robust climate and nature outcomes.

Through rigorous auditing, monitoring, and adherence to international standards, Anthesis ensures all projects provide credible, lasting impact for both climate and local communities.

Project facts