What Afforestt does

Afforestt is an India-based ecological services company founded in 2011 by Shubhendu Sharma that creates native forests globally using an adapted version of the Miyawaki Method, augmented with Toyota Production System process discipline, Potential Native Vegetation studies, soil microbiome restoration, and proprietary frameworks such as Forestscaping® and the Three Colours of Nature. The company operates through three divisions: Afforestt Eco Services, which delivers bespoke end-to-end forest creation (site assessment, PNV research, design, species selection, on-ground execution, and monitoring) to enterprise, government, hospitality, and real estate clients; Afforestt Institute, which monetizes the methodology through in-person workshops, online training, and one-on-one mentoring; and Maruvan, a desert restoration demonstration and training hub near Jodhpur. Its underlying technology combines 15×15 meter reference forest relevés, multi-layered planting guilds (2–3 saplings per square meter), contour-based earthworks, Jeevamrit/Ghan Jeevamrit soil preparation, and a permanent hydration strategy that revives traditional water infrastructure such as stepwells and naadis, enabling forest establishment across arid, urban, tropical, temperate, and sub-alpine ecologies.

The business model is professional services on a quote-based, project-by-project engagement basis with no published pricing. Afforestt acquires clients through direct enterprise sales, founder-led public speaking (notably a 2014 TED talk), earned media (National Geographic, UNESCO, CNBC, Indian Express), and referrals from a global community of trained practitioners. Notable client engagements span NEOM (Saudi Arabia), Harvard University, Shell Technology Centre Bangalore, Toyota, Indraprastha Gas, the Office of the CAG, the Delhi Development Authority, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Grupo Link (Mexico), The Residence Tunis, Forest Hill Resort, IVN Netherlands, and Temasek/Mandai Rainforest Safari Park. Revenue is generated from consulting fees, training program fees, and consultancy tied to the Maruvan demonstration site, with no disclosed external funding and operations carried out by a 1–10 person team across more than 15 countries.

Customer segments include government and public sector (primary), hotels and hospitality (primary), private residences and estates under the Forest Homes brand (primary), real estate and property developers (secondary), and a secondary segment of practitioners, designers, and nature enthusiasts served through the Afforestt Institute. Ski and highland tourism operators represent an emerging segment following the 2025 Armenia project. Geographic reach covers Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, with marquee logos concentrated in India, the Middle East, North Africa, and select European and U.S. engagements.

Name

Afforestt

Legal name

Afforestt

Website

https://afforestt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Afforestt is an India-based ecological services firm that creates native forests globally for enterprises, governments, and hospitality clients using an adapted Miyawaki Method, monetizing bespoke consulting, training programs, and a desert restoration demonstration site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecological Restoration Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Silviculture & Reforestation Services (Nurseries, Planting, Tending) (IMAMAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Site Preparation (Clearing, Scarification, Mounding, Ripping) (AFAMACAD), Forest Management & Silviculture Services (Cruising, Planning, Compliance) (IMAMAAAD)

Keywords

• Native forest creation
• Miyawaki afforestation
• Ecological restoration services
• Reforestation consulting
• Desert restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Kashipur

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Forest Creation Consulting & Implementation: Afforestt Eco Services provides end-to-end forest creation as a professional consulting service. Deliverables include site assessment, ecological research and design, species selection and supply chain, on-ground execution, and post-project monitoring. Projects are commissioned on a per-site, per-project basis for corporate, government, and private clients worldwide. Services include Forest Homes (bespoke private forest sanctuaries), Forestscaping® (forest + design + art integration), Site and Feasibility Assessment, Technical Consultation (research, design, PNV documentation), Execution Consultation and Project Management, Forest Audit and Monitoring, and Training & Workshops.
2. Training & Education Programs: Afforestt Institute generates revenue through in-person forest creation workshops (classroom + outdoor hands-on sessions) and online training programs (2-day, 4-hour interactive virtual sessions). Online training covers the Miyawaki Method, species selection, soil preparation, forest design, execution planning, and maintenance. Ongoing Assistance service provides one-on-one mentoring for past trainees through every stage of forest creation.
3. Maruvan Demonstration & Training: Maruvan serves as both a living demonstration site for desert restoration and a training hub where clients and practitioners learn forest creation methods. It also hosts international trainees (e.g., 17 Dutch IVN trainees in 2018). Revenue is generated through hosting, training programs, and consultancy services tied to desert restoration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Afforestt is an ecological services company that creates dense, multi-layered native forests on client sites using an adapted Miyawaki Method. It delivers end-to-end forest creation as a professional consulting service covering site assessment, ecological research and design (Potential Native Vegetation studies, soil microbiome restoration), species selection and supply chain, on-ground execution, and post-project monitoring. Beyond project delivery, it runs the Afforestt Institute (training programs, online courses, ongoing mentoring) and the Maruvan initiative for arid-land restoration in Rajasthan.

Product overview

Afforestt is a forest creation company organized into three divisions: (1) Afforestt Eco Services transforms landscapes through specialized forest creation services including Forest Homes, Forestscaping®, Site Assessment, Technical Consultation, Execution Management, Forest Audits, Training and Online Programs; (2) Afforestt Institute provides educational content and builds a global community of forest practitioners through tutorials and workshops; and (3) Maruvan by Afforestt focuses on reviving desert lands through pioneering restoration initiatives in arid regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forestscaping: A signature Afforestt service integrating native landscaping, forest creation, design, and art to shape thoughtfully composed natural environments—spaces where ecology meets aesthetics.
• Afforestt Institute
• Maruvan

Products and services

• Afforestt Eco Services The business arm of Afforestt that transforms landscapes by offering ecological solutions tailored to specific geographies, providing forest creation expertise from site assessment to execution and monitoring. Targeted at enterprises, governments, real estate developers, and institutions.
• Afforestt Institute A global network and educational platform that nurtures forest makers, landscapers, designers, botanists, students, and nature enthusiasts with tutorials, in-person workshops, online training programs (2-day, 4-hour live interactive sessions), and ongoing one-on-one mentoring for past trainees.
• Maruvan by Afforestt A desert restoration initiative reviving lands challenged by desertification and drought in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan. Also serves as a living demonstration site and field training hub hosting international trainees.
• Forest Homes Bespoke private forest sanctuaries integrating forest living, art, design, ecological services, and aesthetics for select clients. Each Forest Home is designed as an immersive space where living and nature blend seamlessly within private home environments.
• Forestscaping® A signature service that brings together native landscaping, forest creation, design, and art to shape thoughtfully composed natural environments with winding pathways, natural hardscaping, stone art, and contemplative landscapes. Forestscaping is a registered service mark of Afforestt.
• Site and Feasibility Assessment Assessment service evaluating forest creation potential of any land on key site-readiness and feasibility parameters, including forest type suitability, density recommendations, and budget estimates.
• Technical Consultation: Study, Research, and Design Detailed research and design service involving site ecological profile studies, indigenous flora selection, Potential Native Vegetation (PNV) research, plant guild identification, and holistic ecological and aesthetic design development.
• Execution Consultation and Project Management

Quantifiable outcome

• Yamuna floodplain: over 10,000 plants from 50+ native species restored a 2-acre stretch of degraded floodplain along the Barapullah drain, reducing the drain's ~30% contribution to Yamuna pollution
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Residence Tunis by CenizarocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2024Afforestt collaborated with The Residence Tunis to create the first Afforestt forest in North Africa on the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia. The partnership included ecological research surveys, native species selection (25+ species), forest creation, and a 4-day training program with over 40 participants including hotel staff, ecologists, designers, and permaculture specialists.
• Ministry of Agriculture, TunisiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024The Ministry of Agriculture of Tunisia supported the Tunisia Mediterranean forest creation project, providing institutional backing for Afforestt's first project in North Africa. The ministry collaborated on research surveys at Ichkeul National Park and Djebel Zaghouan National Park.
• NEOM (Saudi Arabia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Afforestt was selected as a specialist partner for technical studies, ecological research, and native forest design at the NEOM futuristic city development. NEOM is a major Saudi Arabian giga-project focused on sustainable urban development.
• Grupo Link (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Afforestt partnered with Grupo Link, a leading Mexican architecture, design, and real estate company, to create a native Encino (oak) forest for an ultra-modern office and residential development in San Miguel de Allende. The project included reconnaissance surveys, soil preparation, and the planting of approximately 3,000 plants from 35+ indigenous species, with full documentation for scaling.
• Harvard University / Harvard Climate Change Solutions FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Afforestt served as afforestation consultants for the Linear Urban Forest project (2021–2024), funded by Harvard's Climate Change Solutions Fund and led by renowned landscape architect Martha Schwartz. Afforestt conducted field surveys across five New England reference forests and translated ecological data into street-ready planting palettes for Springfield, Massachusetts.
• Indraprastha Gas LimitedcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2020Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), a public utility company, funded the CSR-driven restoration of a 2-acre degraded floodplain stretch along the Barapullah drain near Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi. The project transformed a polluted drain area into a native riverine forest.
• Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India partnered in the Yamuna floodplain restoration project, providing institutional support and policy-level engagement for the ecological restoration of the Barapullah drain area.
• Delhi Development Authority (DDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020DDA partnered in the Yamuna floodplain restoration project by providing land and institutional support for the forest creation along the Barapullah drain.
• Maruvan FoundationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2020Maruvan Foundation, Afforestt's affiliated desert restoration initiative, was a collaborative partner in the Yamuna floodplain restoration, contributing ecological expertise and operational support.
• SUGI Network (Beirut RiverLESS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Afforestt's first project in Lebanon along the Beirut River was partially funded through the SUGI (Sustainable Urbanisation Global Initiative) initiative, which supports innovative urban greening projects.
• IVN NetherlandscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2018IVN Netherlands won an award to plant 100 Tiny Forests and partnered with Afforestt to train 'Master Forest Creators'. 17 Dutch trainees visited Maruvan for hands-on training. This partnership launched IVN's nationwide Tiny Forest movement in the Netherlands.
• Temasek / Mandai Rainforest Safari Park (Singapore)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016Afforestt created a forest for Temasek and the Mandai Rainforest Safari Park in Singapore, and also trained Singapore Zoo staff in the Miyawaki method.
• Open Source Ecology (US)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Afforestt's first international project in the United States was in collaboration with Open Source Ecology, marking its first global project outside India.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Veritree: Veritree is an emerging reforestation platform with monitoring technology and project partnerships. It participates in the same ESG/restoration ecosystem as Afforestt, focusing on verified planting data for corporate buyers, partially overlapping with Afforestt's PNV and monitoring services.
• Terraformation: Terraformation is a nature-based carbon removal company focused on high-quality forest carbon projects. They overlap thematically with Afforestt's restoration focus and target similar enterprise/government buyers, but operate via project finance and technology rather than field-level planting consulting.
• Pachama: Pachama is a technology-driven nature-based carbon credit marketplace with partial overlap to Afforestt's restoration offering. While not a direct service competitor, it is positioning at the intersection of restoration projects and corporate carbon buyers, which intersects with Afforestt's enterprise ESG demand.

Broad incumbents

• Eden Reforestation Projects: Eden Reforestation Projects is a major global reforestation nonprofit with very large planting capacity and donor-funded programmes. It overlaps with Afforestt's mission but operates at a fundamentally different scale and via employment-based nurseries rather than Miyawaki-method consulting.
• One Tree Planted: One Tree Planted is a large-scale reforestation nonprofit and brand serving corporate ESG and consumer planting demand globally. They compete with Afforestt for the same corporate sustainability budgets, but at a different scale and via plant-funded donations rather than bespoke consulting.
• WeForest: WeForest is a larger, established international reforestation nonprofit that restores large-scale landscapes across the tropics. It operates broadly in the same space as Afforestt but focuses on landscape-scale tropical restoration rather than Miyawaki-style urban/specialty consulting.

Direct peers

• Earthwatch Europe (Tiny Forest): Earthwatch operates the Tiny Forest programme in Europe, modeled on Dr. Miyawaki's methodology. Their 'Tiny Forests at Scale' work overlaps with Afforestt's enterprise consulting and brings direct competition for corporate and municipal forest creation mandates in Western Europe.
• IVN Natuureducatie: IVN Netherlands was trained by Afforestt (17 Master Forest Creators in 2018) and now operates the 100 Tiny Forests programme independently. They are a former channel partner turned direct competitor in the Dutch and broader European tiny-forest market.
• Common Ground (Miyawaki-affiliated practitioner network): Common Ground is part of the global network of Miyawaki-trained practitioners offering end-to-end tiny/micro-forest creation services. They compete for similar corporate, government, and institutional clients in North America and Asia, using the same PNV and soil-microbiome restoration techniques as Afforestt.
• SUGi Projects: SUGi is a direct peer: it funds and supports dense, native, Miyawaki-inspired 'Tiny Forests' in urban areas worldwide, overlapping directly with Afforestt's Forest Homes and Forestscaping® services. Both license the same ecological methodology and compete for the same enterprise, municipal, and institutional forest-creation budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AfforesttGlobal
• Facebookfacebook.com/afforestt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afforestt
• Instagraminstagram.com/afforestt
• Xx.com/afforestt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Afforestt