Wildlife Works
Wildlife Works is a conservation company that develops community-led REDD+ forest carbon projects across Africa, Asia, and South America, issuing verified carbon credits while operating sustainable apparel, eco-tourism, and crafts enterprises serving corporate carbon buyers and global sustainable fashion brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersMill Valley, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Wildlife Works does
Wildlife Works is a community-centered conservation company that develops REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) forest carbon projects under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) with biodiversity and community co-benefits validated to CCB Gold. The company operates four core project areas — Kasigau Corridor (Kenya), Mai Ndombe (DRC), Colombia, and Gerbang Barito (Indonesia) — protecting approximately 1.3 million hectares of forest, with cumulative issuance of 53 million verified credits and a stated target of 25 million tonnes CO2 sequestered annually. Its technical capabilities span biodiversity monitoring (bird mist-netting, camera traps, transect surveys), LiDAR and multisensor remote sensing for biomass and carbon measurement, and a proprietary FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent) implementation framework used to secure community land tenure and participation.
Revenue is generated through four streams: (1) sales of REDD+ carbon credits to corporate buyers through direct enterprise contracts and the Stand for Trees direct-to-consumer platform, (2) sustainable apparel production via a 70-person eco-factory in Kenya supplying global sustainable fashion brands, (3) eco-tourism at the Rukinga Conservancy lodge, and (4) the Hadithi Crafts partnership with over 1,800 community women. The company also controls ancillary entities including the Code REDD nonprofit and the Equitable Earth Coalition (the latter of which was launched in 2023 and whose underlying standard was acquired by the Ecosystem Restoration Standard in mid-2025).
Founded in 1997 by Mike Korchinsky and headquartered in Mill Valley, California, Wildlife Works employs 251–500 people across regional offices in Panama, Cameroon, Tanzania, Kenya, and the United Kingdom. It has not disclosed institutional venture or growth funding, indicating founder/management ownership. Notable milestones include delivering the world's first REDD+ VCS credits in 2010, the 2016 IFC Forest Bond on the London Stock Exchange, a 2018 USAID award supporting Colombia expansion, and articulation of Brazil and biodiversity-credit expansion plans at COP30.
Wildlife Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wildlife Works
- Legal name
- Wildlife Works Inc.
- Website
- https://wildlifeworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Wildlife Works is a conservation company that develops community-led REDD+ forest carbon projects across Africa, Asia, and South America, issuing verified carbon credits while operating sustainable apparel, eco-tourism, and crafts enterprises serving corporate carbon buyers and global sustainable fashion brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wildlife Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Carbon Credit Development
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Avoided Conversion & Ecosystem Protection (REDD+, Blue Carbon Conservation) (EUABABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Carbon Sequestration & Forest Carbon Credits (AFAMAMAA), Project-Originated Carbon Credit Marketing & Offtake (Primary Market) (EUAGAIAC), Forest Carbon Projects & Ecosystem Services (Carbon Credits, Biodiversity) (IMAMAAAJ), Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE), Nature-Based Credits Trading (Forestry/REDD+, Soil Carbon, Blue Carbon) (EUAGAIAK)
Keywords
Where Wildlife Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mill Valley
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Wildlife Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- REDD+ Carbon Credits: Sale of verified carbon credits generated from avoided deforestation projects. Carbon credits represent one metric ton of prevented CO2 emissions and are sold to corporate buyers and consumers seeking to offset their carbon footprint. Revenue flows primarily to forest communities for conservation, healthcare, education, and development.
- Sustainable Apparel (Eco-Factory): The Wildlife Works eco-factory employs 70 full-time employees producing clothing with organic cotton and environmentally friendly dyes for sustainable brands worldwide. Revenue generated supports the conservation operations and community development.
- Eco-Tourism (Rukinga Conservancy): The Rukinga Conservancy eco-lodge welcomes guests from around the world, generating tourism revenue while showcasing conservation success.
- Hadithi Crafts Partnership: Partnership with over 1,800 women from the Kasigau Corridor community creating handmade crafts for market, generating income for local women.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | REDD+ Carbon Credits - Project-specific pricing based on forest conservation projects |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Wildlife Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wildlife Works develops REDD+ forest carbon conservation projects in partnership with indigenous and local communities, generating verified carbon credits from avoided deforestation across sites in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, and Indonesia. The company sells these carbon credits to corporate buyers and individual consumers, channeling the majority of revenue to forest communities for conservation, healthcare, education, and development. Complementary offerings include sustainable apparel manufacturing at the Kenya eco-factory, an own-brand apparel retail line, eco-tourism at the Rukinga Conservancy, and women's handicrafts through Hadithi Crafts.
Product overview
Wildlife Works operates as a portfolio of interconnected conservation and commercial products centered on indigenous-led forest and biodiversity conservation. The core offering is REDD+ forest carbon projects (Mai Ndombe, Kasigau Corridor, Colombia projects, and Gerbang Barito) that generate verified carbon credits for sale to fund conservation. Complementing this are eco-businesses including the Wildlife Works Eco-Factory producing sustainable apparel, the Wildlife Works Apparel retail line, Hadithi Crafts (women's handmade crafts), and the Rukinga Conservancy Eco-Lodge. Supporting platforms include Stand for Trees (direct-to-consumer carbon credit sales) and Equitable Earth (carbon market standard development). The company also founded Code REDD nonprofit and co-created the Equitable Earth Coalition for new carbon market standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Wildlife Works Eco-Factory: Sustainable apparel manufacturing facility employing 70 full-time employees producing clothing with organic cotton and environmentally friendly dyes for sustainable brands worldwide.
- Wildlife Works Apparel
- Stand for Trees
- Hadithi Crafts
- Rukinga Conservancy Eco-Lodge
- Elephant Origins Tea
Products and services
- Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project The world's first and longest-standing certified REDD+ project in Kenya, protecting forest corridors between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks and providing carbon credit income to local landowners. Wildlife Works develops and operates the project in partnership with indigenous and local communities.
- Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project A REDD+ project in the Democratic Republic of Congo protecting 300,000 hectares of critical bonobo and forest elephant habitat within the Congo Basin, one of the world's largest intact rainforests. Nested under a jurisdictional program.
- Colombia REDD+ Projects Multiple REDD+ projects in Colombia including 2 REDD+ Horizon Projects in the Pacific Ecoregion and 1 REDD+ Horizon Project in Amazonian Colombia, managed under USAID's Program Paramos y Bosques.
- Gerbang Barito REDD+ Project A REDD+ project in Indonesia focused on forest conservation in the Gerbang Barito region, protecting critical habitat including orangutans.
- Verified Carbon Credits Verified carbon credits generated by Wildlife Works' REDD+ projects, available for purchase by corporate buyers and individuals to offset their carbon emissions and support forest conservation.
- Wildlife Works Eco-Factory (Sustainable Apparel Manufacturing) A sustainable apparel manufacturing facility at the Kasigau Corridor project in Kenya employing 70 full-time employees producing clothing with organic cotton and environmentally friendly dyes for sustainable brands worldwide.
- Wildlife Works Apparel Wildlife Works' own line of clothing made at the eco-factory, sold through a retail store located in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Hadithi Crafts A partnership with over 1,800 women from the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project's community that creates a market for handmade crafts, generating income for local women.
- Rukinga Conservancy Eco-Lodge (Kivuli Camp) An eco-lodge (Kivuli Camp) at the Rukinga Conservancy in Kenya that welcomes guests from around the world, generating eco-tourism revenue while showcasing conservation.
- Stand for Trees A direct-to-consumer platform for purchasing REDD+ carbon credits and raising awareness about forest protection, founded by Wildlife Works founder Mike Korchinsky in 2015.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1.3 million hectares of forests protected
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Wildlife Works
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Wildlife Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Wildlife Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ecosystem Restoration Standard (ERS)coreERS, an ICVCM approved carbon standard, acquired Equitable Earth to advance high-quality community-led forest conservation projects. Wildlife Works co-developed Equitable Earth.
- Forest TrendscoreFounding member of the Equitable Earth Coalition, committed to developing a new voluntary carbon market standard centered on indigenous peoples and local communities.
- EverlandcoreFounding member of the Equitable Earth Coalition working to develop new voluntary carbon market standards for community-led conservation.
- Nature ConservancycoreCo-created best practices framework for implementing REDD+ projects in the DRC, funded by The Nature Conservancy. Collaborated with DRC project practitioners and civil society.
- Elephant CooperationminorPhilanthropic partner at the Kasigau REDD+ Project in Kenya, supporting elephant conservation efforts.
- Maasai Wilderness Conservation TrustminorPartner in the Chyulu Hills REDD+ Project, supporting community-based conservation in Kenya.
- Forest Resources Management (FRM)corePartner in the Mai Ndombe Jurisdictional REDD+ Program in the Democratic Republic of Congo, supporting nested jurisdictional approach.
- Peoples Forests PartnershipcorePartner in driving direct finance to forest communities. Founding member of the Equitable Earth Coalition.
- Elephant Origins TeaminorPartner in delivering wildlife-friendly tea, ensuring tea growers and elephants can coexist. Founder Mike Korchinsky serves on the board.
- Stand for TreescoreSME and consumer credit purchases partner. A direct-to-consumer platform co-founded by Mike Korchinsky to sell REDD+ credits and grow awareness for protecting forests.
- Hadithi CraftsminorPartnership with over 1,800 women from the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project's community, creating a market for handmade crafts.
- Rukinga Conservancy (Kivuli Camp)minorEco-lodge which welcomes guests from all over the world, supporting conservation through eco-tourism.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wildlife Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- South Pole Group: South Pole is a leading carbon project developer and climate solutions provider, developing nature-based and tech-based carbon credit projects globally with corporate buyers — directly comparable to Wildlife Works' REDD+ project development and corporate sales model.
- Verra: Verra operates the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), the certification program under which Wildlife Works' Kasigau project issued the world's first REDD+ credits. Verra sets the methodology framework that Wildlife Works projects operate within.
- Pachama: Pachama is a technology-focused carbon credit marketplace connecting corporate buyers to nature-based carbon projects, including forestry credits. It competes with Wildlife Works for corporate buyer relationships and uses remote sensing/MRV technology directly comparable to Wildlife Works' biodiversity monitoring approach.
- Infinite Earth: Infinite Earth is a REDD+ project developer focused on rainforest conservation in Indonesia (similar to Wildlife Works' Gerbang Barito project), with comparable community-led forest conservation and carbon credit generation models.
- Carbon Growth Partners: Carbon Growth Partners is a carbon credit originator and supplier focused on nature-based and forestry credits, serving corporate buyers — directly comparable GTM motion to Wildlife Works' enterprise sales of REDD+ credits.
- Cool Effect: Cool Effect is a carbon credit marketplace focused on high-quality forestry and REDD+ projects, offering both consumer and corporate purchasing — comparable to Wildlife Works' Stand for Trees platform in the consumer carbon credit space.
Broad incumbents
- Sylvera: Sylvera provides independent ratings and MRV for carbon credits, including forest carbon. While not a project developer, Sylvera's rating infrastructure directly affects Wildlife Works' credit pricing and buyer confidence.
- Ecosystem Restoration Standard (ERS): ERS is an ICVCM-approved carbon standard that acquired Equitable Earth in 2025. As the standard-setter for Wildlife Works' co-developed methodology, ERS is a critical infrastructure peer shaping the regulatory environment for Wildlife Works credits.
- Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is a large environmental NGO that co-created best practices for REDD+ with Wildlife Works in DRC and operates forest carbon initiatives globally — comparable as both a collaborator and a broader competitor in the conservation financing space.
Emerging players
- Tree Aid: Tree Aid focuses on community-led forestry and land restoration in Africa, with overlapping geography and similar indigenous/community partnership models to Wildlife Works' African operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wildlife Works social profiles
Digital presenceWildlife Works compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Wildlife Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wildlife Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Wildlife Works subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Wildlife Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wildlife Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wildlife Works
What does Wildlife Works do?
Wildlife Works develops REDD+ forest carbon conservation projects in partnership with indigenous and local communities, generating verified carbon credits from avoided deforestation across sites in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, and Indonesia. The company sells these carbon credits to corporate buyers and individual consumers, channeling the majority of revenue to forest communities for conservation, healthcare, education, and development. Complementary offerings include sustainable apparel manufacturing at the Kenya eco-factory, an own-brand apparel retail line, eco-tourism at the Rukinga Conservancy, and women's handicrafts through Hadithi Crafts.
Is Wildlife Works a public or private company?
Wildlife Works is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Wildlife Works founded?
Wildlife Works was founded in 1997. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Wildlife Works based?
Wildlife Works is headquartered in Mill Valley, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wildlife Works make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. REDD+ Carbon Credits are the primary driver. The others are sustainable Apparel (Eco-Factory), eco-Tourism (Rukinga Conservancy) and hadithi Crafts Partnership.
Who are Wildlife Works's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are South Pole Group, Verra, Pachama, Infinite Earth, Carbon Growth Partners and Cool Effect. Broad incumbents are Sylvera, Ecosystem Restoration Standard (ERS) and Nature Conservancy. Tree Aid is listed as an emerging player.
Does Wildlife Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wildlife Works.
What industry is Wildlife Works in?
Wildlife Works's product category is Carbon Credit Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABABAC, Avoided Conversion & Ecosystem Protection (REDD+, Blue Carbon Conservation), with a secondary code of AFAMAMAA, Carbon Sequestration & Forest Carbon Credits. Its NAICS code is 1153 and its SIC code is 800.