What Arbor Day Carbon does

Arbor Day Carbon is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Arbor Day Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972, and was launched in 2021 to operate a carbon credit marketplace focused exclusively on forestry-based nature-based solutions. The company's core function is intermediation: it vets forestry carbon project developers, sources credits from those developers, and sells those credits to climate-conscious corporate buyers seeking to meet sustainability and climate commitments. Current and past project supply includes the CommuniTree Nicaragua agroforestry project (with Taking Root), the GreenTrees Reforestation Program in the lower Mississippi River Valley and Virginia (with GreenTrees), the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (REDD+, Cambodia), and the Alto Mayo project in the Peruvian Andean Amazon (with Conservation International). Operational geographies span the USA, Nicaragua, Peru, and Mexico.

The platform is a two-sided marketplace offering two product lines: Carbon Credit Solutions (for corporate buyers) and Carbon Developer Solutions (for project developers seeking capital or credit purchasers). Revenue is generated through transaction fees on the resale of vetted forestry carbon credits. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with the sales process conducted through dedicated carbon markets and corporate partnerships managers in a sales-led, enterprise field sales motion. Marketing leverages the parent Foundation's content hub, corporate partnership programs, and direct outreach. The company has transacted 8.5M+ carbon credits cumulatively and claims to have worked with hundreds of corporate partners, supported by the Foundation's 50+ years of tree-planting experience and 500M+ trees planted since 1972.

The business model is constrained by its small team (5 employees) and the absence of venture or private equity capital, which is consistent with its structure as a nonprofit subsidiary. Strategic moats are anchored in the Arbor Day Foundation's brand credibility, network reach, and existing corporate relationships, rather than in proprietary technology. The offering competes in the broader voluntary carbon market, where it differentiates on supply quality and due diligence rigor rather than on price or technology. No patents, trademarks, certifications, regulatory approvals, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Name

Arbor Day Carbon

Legal name

Arbor Day Carbon (wholly owned subsidiary of Arbor Day Foundation)

Website

https://carbon.arborday.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arbor Day Carbon is a nonprofit subsidiary of the Arbor Day Foundation that operates a carbon credit marketplace, sourcing vetted forestry-based credits from project developers and selling them to climate-conscious corporate buyers. It has transacted 8.5M+ credits across projects in the US, Nicaragua, Peru, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Voluntary Carbon Market / Forestry Carbon Credits

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forest Carbon Projects & Ecosystem Services (Carbon Credits, Biodiversity) (IMAMAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon Forestry Project Development & Origination (Afforestation/Reforestation/IFM) (IMAMAJAD), Forestry & Ecosystem Carbon Removal (Afforestation/Reforestation, Improved Forest Management) (EUABAFAH), Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD), Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE)

Keywords

• Carbon credit marketplace
• Forestry carbon offsets
• Voluntary carbon market
• Reforestation project funding
• Nature-based climate solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Carbon Credit Transactions: Arbor Day Carbon transacts carbon credits, purchasing from vetted project developers and selling to corporate buyers. The company accelerates reforestation by vetting, funding, and selling carbon credits with a process where everyone wins. Revenue generated through the sale of carbon credits to corporations seeking to achieve climate goals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Arbor Day Carbon accelerates reforestation by vetting, funding, and transacting forestry carbon credits through a marketplace platform that bridges corporate buyers with vetted carbon project developers. The company purchases credits from developers and sells them to climate-conscious corporations, while providing initial capital and streamlined diligence for projects ranging from the Mississippi River Alluvial Valley to Nicaragua and Peru.

Product overview

Arbor Day Carbon operates as a platform marketplace connecting forestry carbon project developers with climate-conscious corporate buyers. The core offering consists of Carbon Credit Solutions (for corporations seeking high-quality nature-based carbon offsets) and Carbon Developer Solutions (for project developers seeking funding or credit purchasers). The platform manages a portfolio of current and past reforestation projects including CommuniTree Nicaragua, GreenTrees Reforestation Program, Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, and Alto Mayo, spanning geographies from the Mississippi River Alluvial Valley to Nicaragua and Peru.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arbor Day Carbon Platform Marketplace platform that bridges climate-conscious corporations and forestry carbon project developers, enabling carbon credit transactions to fund reforestation projects at scale.
• Carbon Credit Solutions Forestry carbon credit solutions for corporations, providing rigorously vetted high-quality carbon credits from project developers to help companies achieve climate goals.
• Carbon Developer Solutions Solutions for carbon project developers, including initial capital funding and credit purchasing to accelerate forestry carbon projects from inception to market.
• CommuniTree Nicaragua Current reforestation project in partnership with Taking Root, collaborating with smallholder farmers in Nicaragua to expand agroforestry capabilities, income streams, and local economy by growing native trees alongside existing farming practices.
• GreenTrees Reforestation Program Current partnership with GreenTrees to restore degraded agricultural lands in the lower Mississippi River Valley and Virginia, supplying high-quality forestry carbon credits.
• Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary Current forest conservation effort to protect biodiversity and reduce deforestation, preserving critical habitats for endangered species and promoting sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8.5M+ carbon credits transacted
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Taking RootcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Taking Root for the CommuniTree Nicaragua project. Collaborates with smallholder farmers in Nicaragua to expand agroforestry capabilities, income streams, and local economy by growing native trees alongside existing farming practices. Kahlil Baker, CEO of Taking Root, has endorsed the partnership noting Arbor Day Carbon's ability to recognize unique on-the-ground realities of reforestation projects.
• GreenTreescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GreenTrees to restore degraded agricultural lands in the lower Mississippi River Valley and Virginia through the GreenTrees Reforestation Program. GreenTrees supplies high-quality forestry carbon credits through this partnership.
• Conservation InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Conservation International for the Alto Mayo project in the Peruvian Andean Amazon. Preserves the flora and fauna of this ecologically rich region through forest conservation efforts.
• Arbor Day FoundationcoreOthersArbor Day Carbon is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Arbor Day Foundation. The Foundation provides 50+ years of tree-planting expertise, network, and brand credibility. Arbor Day Foundation has planted over 500M trees since 1972.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carbonfuture: Carbonfuture operates a carbon credit marketplace with a focus on nature-based and biochar removals, using digital MRV tooling. It competes with Arbor Day Carbon for both nature-based project developers and corporate buyers in the voluntary carbon market.
• South Pole: South Pole is a major developer and intermediary of carbon credits, including forestry and nature-based projects, helping corporates meet climate targets. It directly competes with Arbor Day Carbon in originating, vetting, and selling voluntary carbon credits to enterprise buyers.
• Cloverly: Cloverly is a carbon credit API and marketplace platform that helps businesses purchase and embed carbon offsets, including nature-based credits. It competes with Arbor Day Carbon in enabling corporate access to forestry and other carbon credits.
• Pachama: Pachama is a digital carbon credit marketplace that connects corporations with forestry and nature-based carbon project developers using satellite monitoring. Like Arbor Day Carbon, it serves as a trusted intermediary between developers and corporate buyers, focusing on high-quality nature-based credits.
• Terrapass: Terrapass sells carbon offsets to businesses and individuals, including forestry and renewable energy based credits. It is a comparable intermediary in the voluntary carbon market targeting similar corporate buyer motivations.

Emerging players

• NCX (Nori): NCX operates a marketplace for nature-based, forest-friendly carbon credits connecting landowners and corporate buyers. It serves a similar two-sided audience as Arbor Day Carbon, though with a heavier focus on U.S. small landowners.
• Sylvera: Sylvera provides independent ratings and analytics on carbon credits, including forestry projects, helping buyers assess quality. It is an adjacent player to Arbor Day Carbon's own diligence function and serves many of the same corporate buyers.

Others

• Conservation International: Conservation International is both a current partner of Arbor Day Carbon on the Alto Mayo project and an established developer of nature-based carbon projects. Comparable as a forestry carbon project originator and ecosystem steward, though more oriented to NGO-led conservation.

Broad incumbents

• Verra: Verra runs the VCS Program, the dominant registry for voluntary carbon credits including forestry projects. While not a direct marketplace competitor, Verra is the standards-setting incumbent whose integrity framework shapes demand for Arbor Day Carbon's vetted credits.

Regional players

• GreenTrees: GreenTrees is a forestry carbon project developer in the Mississippi River Valley and is a current supply partner of Arbor Day Carbon. It is comparable as a forestry carbon credit originator and seller, though primarily focused on U.S. afforestation/reforestation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arbor-day-carbon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arbor Day Carbon