Chestnut Carbon has successfully raised $160 million in a Series B financing round to advance its large-scale carbon removal projects. The funding will accelerate afforestation efforts, enabling the sequestration of approximately 100 million tons of carbon through its Sustainable Restoration Project. Leading the investment are Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Cloverlay, and DBL Partners, alongside contributions from institutional investors affiliated with Kimmeridge.

Expanding Afforestation Efforts

The company specializes in establishing new forests on underutilized agricultural and pasture lands, distinguishing itself with a strong focus on the U.S. market. Chestnut’s afforestation initiatives are designed to create long-lasting ecosystems while generating carbon credits verified by the Gold Standard®. These credits provide sustainability-driven corporations with reliable offset solutions to help meet their decarbonization and net-zero commitments.

Strategic Vision and Leadership

Since its founding in 2022, Chestnut Carbon has aimed to bridge a crucial gap in the market by offering high-integrity carbon offset solutions. CEO Ben Dell, who is also the Founder and Managing Partner of Kimmeridge, emphasized the company’s mission to provide a differentiated approach to carbon removal. The new financing will allow Chestnut to scale its operations and reinforce its role as a leading provider in the international carbon market.

Investment Allocation and Growth

The capital raised will be strategically allocated to land acquisitions, technological advancements, and workforce expansion. Since its inception, the company has acquired over 35,000 acres across six U.S. states—Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas—to rapidly implement its afforestation projects. By integrating proprietary data tools and predictive modeling, Chestnut ensures the accuracy and effectiveness of its carbon removal initiatives.

Technological Innovations for Carbon Sequestration

Chestnut leverages advanced technology to optimize forest growth and carbon credit generation. Its proprietary data tools streamline land acquisition, member enrollment, and forest inventory collection while enhancing the efficiency of carbon modeling. These innovations position the company to maintain cost-effective operations and deliver measurable environmental impact at scale.

Strengthening Expertise and Industry Leadership

A highly skilled team with backgrounds in forestry, carbon regulation, finance, and environmental management drives Chestnut’s success. As the company expands, it will continue to attract top talent to support its commitment to quality and operational excellence. This investment in human capital is essential for maintaining Chestnut’s leadership in the rapidly evolving carbon removal industry.

Investor Confidence and Market Impact

DBL Partners Founder and Managing Partner Nancy Pfund highlighted Chestnut’s potential to set a new standard in high-quality carbon offsets while benefiting rural communities. Cloverlay Partner Kendra Corbett emphasized the firm’s innovative approach and commitment to measurable environmental outcomes. With strong investor backing, Chestnut Carbon is well-positioned to scale its initiatives and drive meaningful progress in the sustainability sector.

Chestnut Carbon’s successful Series B funding marks a significant milestone in its mission to advance nature-based carbon removal solutions. By expanding its afforestation capacity and leveraging cutting-edge technology, the company is enhancing its impact on global decarbonization efforts. As corporate sustainability commitments grow, Chestnut is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the carbon offset market.