Sustainability in Action

The three pillars of a successful project (the farm owners, J.M. Smucker Co., and RTT) at the forest sign

Sustainability in Action

The three pillars of a successful project (the farm owners, J.M. Smucker Co., and RTT) at the forest sign

Why We Plant: Designing Forests That Work for Climate, Communities, and the Long Term

Reforestation is one of the most powerful tools we have to address climate change—but only when it’s done right. At Reforest The Tropics (RTT), we believe forests must be designed to deliver long term climate impact, restore biodiversity, and support the people who steward the land. Few projects illustrate this philosophy more clearly than our 25 year reforestation partnership with The J.M. Smucker Co. in Costa Rica.
In 2023 to commemorate the company’s recent 125th anniversary, Smucker committed to planting and maintaining 125 hectares (308.75 acres) of new forest across two privately owned farms. This project was conceived not as a short term tree planting effort, but as a decades long investment in climate solutions, ecological restoration, and rural livelihoods. It reflects a broader truth: effective reforestation is not simply about planting trees—it’s about creating forests that last.

Why We Plant: Designing Forests That Work for Climate, Communities, and the Long Term

Reforestation is one of the most powerful tools we have to address climate change—but only when it’s done right. At Reforest The Tropics (RTT), we believe forests must be designed to deliver long term climate impact, restore biodiversity, and support the people who steward the land. Few projects illustrate this philosophy more clearly than our 25 year reforestation partnership with The J.M. Smucker Co. in Costa Rica.
In 2023 to commemorate the company’s recent 125th anniversary, Smucker committed to planting and maintaining 125 hectares (308.75 acres) of new forest across two privately owned farms. This project was conceived not as a short term tree planting effort, but as a decades long investment in climate solutions, ecological restoration, and rural livelihoods. It reflects a broader truth: effective reforestation is not simply about planting trees—it’s about creating forests that last.

Why Tropical Reforestation Matters

Climate scientists increasingly agree that large scale tropical reforestation is essential to keeping global temperatures within safe limits. Forests are unmatched in their ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while simultaneously delivering co benefits like water regulation, soil restoration, and habitat creation. Compared to many technological carbon solutions, reforestation is proven, scalable, and cost effective.
But not all forests are equal in their climate impact. Poorly designed projects—often reliant on monocultures or short rotation cycles—may sequester carbon temporarily, only to release it again within decades. At RTT, we focus on forests that are intentionally designed to remain productive for at least 100 years.

A variety of species promotes a healthy ecosystem

Why Tropical Reforestation Matters

Climate scientists increasingly agree that large scale tropical reforestation is essential to keeping global temperatures within safe limits. Forests are unmatched in their ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while simultaneously delivering co benefits like water regulation, soil restoration, and habitat creation. Compared to many technological carbon solutions, reforestation is proven, scalable, and cost effective.
But not all forests are equal in their climate impact. Poorly designed projects—often reliant on monocultures or short rotation cycles—may sequester carbon temporarily, only to release it again within decades. At RTT, we focus on forests that are intentionally designed to remain productive for at least 100 years.

A variety of species promotes a healthy ecosystem

Each species is included for a specific role: carbon sequestration, habitat creation, and farm income

The Science of Sustainable Reforestation

RTT’s approach is rooted in decades of research and field experience in Costa Rica. Our forest designs draw on pioneering work by Dr. Herster Barres in the 1960s, whose mixed species experiments showed that thoughtfully designed forests could significantly outperform conventional plantations in both biomass growth and carbon storage.
Today, RTT forests consistently deliver four critical outcomes:
• High carbon sequestration, capturing nearly twice as much CO₂ as the industry standard
• Biodiversity, incorporating multiple species to foster resilience and diverse habitats for wildlife
• Economic sustainability, incentivizing private landowners to maintain forests, making them a viable alternative to farmland
• Longevity, with forests designed to remain productive for at least 100 years, both in carbon capture and income generation
A key component of this success is the use of long lived species such as klinkii (Araucaria hunsteinii), which can live for several centuries and continue sequestering carbon long after fast growing plantation species reach maturity.

The Smucker Project: Reforestation at Scale

The Smucker sponsored forests demonstrate how this model works in practice. The 125-hectare project spans two farms and incorporates approximately 40 different tree species arranged in distinct zones. Some areas prioritize maximum carbon capture with high density plantings of klinkii and other long-lived species. Other areas combine a dozen marketable species to provide long term income for farmers. Separate zones are dedicated entirely to biodiversity, restoring habitat for iconic wildlife such as jaguars, tapirs, and the endangered great green macaw.
Over the first 25 years, the Smucker forests are expected to sequester a minimum of 62,500 metric tons of CO₂. Between years 26 and 50, the forests will capture an additional 60,000+ metric tons as they reach their most productive phase. These figures do not include additional carbon stored in soils or in long lived wood products created through selective thinning—meaning the total climate benefit is even greater.

Each species is included for a specific role: carbon sequestration, habitat creation, and farm income

Making Reforestation Work for Landowners

The majority of degraded land in the tropics is privately owned. If reforestation is to succeed at the scale required to address climate change, it must work economically for landowners. History has shown that without reliable income, forests are often cleared once again.
RTT forests are designed with this reality in mind. Trees are planted closely together to rapidly form a canopy and suppress competing vegetation. As the forest matures, approximately 15% of the trees are carefully thinned every five to six years. This provides recurring revenue while maintaining forest health and long-term carbon storage.
On average, RTT managed forests generate about $450 per hectare per year—comparable to cattle farming, but without the environmental degradation. The Smucker project also supports the equivalent of seven permanent, full-time jobs and injects capital into surrounding rural communities.

Planting for Generations

At Reforest The Tropics, we don’t plant forests for short reporting cycles—we plant them for generations. The Smucker project exemplifies what is possible when long term corporate commitment aligns with science-based forest design and strong local partnerships.
These forests will continue growing, accumulating carbon, and supporting wildlife and communities long after the first 25 years have passed. In a world searching for effective climate solutions, well designed reforestation stands as one of the most powerful tools we have—and it all begins with planting the right forest, in the right place, for the long term.