Reforestation: A Profitable Path to Environmental and Economic Resilience
Spades advances large-scale reforestation and agroforestry projects that deliver measurable environmental impact and long-term financial value.
Reforestation: A Cost-Effective Climate Solution
Recent studies highlight the efficiency of reforestation in carbon removal:
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A 2024 study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that well-planned reforestation projects can offer up to 10 times more low-cost carbon removal potential than previously estimated by the IPCC.
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In the United States, forests and harvested wood products currently sequester the equivalent of over 14% of economy-wide CO₂ emissions annually, with potential to increase this capacity by approximately 20% through targeted tree planting on understocked productive forestlands.
Strong Financial Returns for Investors
Reforestation projects are not only environmentally beneficial but also financially attractive:
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In 2022, forestry and timber investment funds globally reported a median Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 15.45%, demonstrating the sector’s profitability.
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Emerging investment managers are targeting high-20s IRR with debut carbon sequestration funds, indicating strong investor confidence in the sector’s potential.
Environmental and Community Benefits
Beyond carbon sequestration, reforestation contributes to:
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Biodiversity Conservation: Restoring native forests supports diverse ecosystems.
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Water Resource Management: Tree cover improves water infiltration and reduces runoff.
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Soil Health: Trees enhance soil structure and fertility, benefiting agriculture.
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Community Livelihoods: Agroforestry systems provide food, fuel, and income sources for local communities.
Spades is committed to delivering reforestation solutions that align environmental restoration with economic growth, ensuring sustainable benefits for both the planet and its people.
Reforestation with Purpose
At Spades, our mission is to sustain the world with trees by uniting human, environmental, and economic solutions. We focus on mission-driven reforestation that not only restores degraded landscapes but also empowers communities and strengthens local economies.
Our approach connects:
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Social impact, by engaging people in the design and implementation of land restoration;
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Environmental stewardship, through large-scale reforestation and ecosystem recovery; and
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Economic development, by creating sustainable livelihoods and market opportunities.
This synergy ensures that our projects are resilient, regenerative, and community-led, designed for long-term success across people, planet, and prosperity.
For the greatest environmental and social impact, our actions align with seven essential values.
Living Our Values
At Spades, we believe that communities and organizations thrive when their culture is strong and values-driven, like healthy soil nourishing growth. The impact of our work begins with who we are and how we show up.
Our culture is grounded in nine core principles:
- Love, hope, justice,
- Courage, trueness, creativity,
- Impact, results, and accountability.
Because of love, we act with courage. Because of courage, we create impact. Every challenge tests our values, and with each challenge, we deepen them.
These aren’t just words. Our values guide every decision, shape our behavior, and define how we partner with communities, clients, and one another. When we fall short, we acknowledge it. We expect to be held accountable, not just by each other, but by the people and planet we serve.
Community-Led Reforestation and Land Restoration
Spades is Sustaining Our World with Trees™.
Spades partners with communities around the world to lead large-scale reforestation and land restoration projects. Our mission is to help people restore ecosystems for future generations, generate long-term economic value, and play a central role in designing and implementing these solutions.
We work across diverse landscapes, from tropical forests to drylands, in both developing and developed economies. Our partners include farmers, pastoralists, Indigenous peoples, foresters, and small to large landowners, each contributing local knowledge and leadership.
How Forests Benefit Communities
People and trees are deeply connected. Trees provide more than just shade. They offer food, medicine, fuel, shelter, gathering spaces, and natural beauty. Reforestation improves soil and water quality, supports pollinators, and builds resilience to droughts, floods, and extreme weather.
Conversely, deforestation leads to devastating consequences:
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Soil erosion and reduced agricultural productivity
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Loss of biodiversity and traditional livelihoods
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Increased greenhouse gas emissions
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Displacement of Indigenous and rural communities
The Terrazone™ Approach to Inclusive Restoration
Through our Terrazone™ methodology, Spades supports community-driven solutions that regenerate degraded landscapes while sustaining cultural practices and local economies. This inclusive approach is designed to align ecological restoration with social and economic development goals.
Global Commitments and the Role of Spades
As of late 2023, 126 countries have pledged to restore over one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030, aiming to combat desertification and enhance ecosystem resilience.
At COP26, more than 140 countries, representing over 90% of the world’s forests, committed to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 through the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use. However, recent assessments indicate that global deforestation rates increased by 4% in 2022, placing the world 21% off track to meet the 2030 target.
Spades’ Integrated Solutions
Spades addresses these urgent global challenges through:
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Reforestation and Regenerative Agriculture: Implementing sustainable practices to restore degraded lands and improve biodiversity.
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Integrated Rural Land Use Development: Collaborating with local communities to design land-use strategies that balance ecological health with economic needs.
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Diversified Ecosystems and Water Resource Management: Enhancing ecosystem services and water availability through strategic land restoration.
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Carbon Sequestration and Air Quality Improvement: Planting trees and restoring soils to capture carbon and improve air quality.
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Investment Opportunities: Creating avenues for sustainable investments that yield environmental and economic returns.
Through these initiatives, Spades contributes to global efforts in achieving land degradation neutrality and sustainable development goals.
Learn about Spades Unique Offerings
- Proprietary design model (Terrazone), breakthrough biotech (Ecofit), and SaaS/TaaS monitoring platform (Topodox).
- Signed regreening partners with most of the earth’s total planting capacity, technical knowledge, and local presence.
- Balanced finance with incentives for investors, governments, and communities – everyone wins.
- An international, diversified project portfolio.
Land Restoration That Works for People and Planet
Spades is a Delaware public benefit corporation dedicated to large-scale land restoration. Our specific benefit purpose is to grow trees and other vegetation to sequester carbon, support healthy ecosystems, and create long-term value for communities through restorative land use.
For donors requiring a registered U.S. nonprofit for donations, Spades is affiliated with Cheetah Development, an organization represented on our Board. We also engage with nonprofits across the world.