Sarah outlines the organisation’s four key strategic initiatives: increasing return on investment for landowners, making FSC certification more accessible to more people, strengthening internal resources, and fostering collaborative learning communities.

The article highlights the three women — Sarah Billig, Monika Patel and Sarah Kutulakos — who are leading initiatives in responsible forestry across North America, showcasing their paths into the field, the challenges they see (like complex ecosystems, climate pressure, and social-equity issues), and how certification plays a meaningful role in connecting forest health, community well-being, and market accountability.

Chestnut Carbon has become the first U.S.-based afforestation developer to earn certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) “Verified Impact” program for biodiversity by restoring over 16,000 acres of pasture and cropland to native forest across 25 sites in Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.