Land Life and Colorado State Land Board forge landmark public-private partnership to reforest wildfire-affected ecosystems
- The first-of-its-kind deal will use private finance to reforest up to 1,000 acres of Colorado state land impacted by wildfires.
- The project will generate revenue for Colorado public schools through carbon credits sold on the voluntary carbon market.
- Reforestation with native trees will improve watershed health, wildlife habitat, and increase landscape resilience to potential climate-induced stressors such as wildfires.
Global restoration company, Land Life announced today that it will begin reforesting up to 1,000 acres of wildfire-affected land across the state of Colorado, following approval from the Commissioners of the Colorado State Land Board Opens in a new tab.(State Land Board). This first-of-its-kind partnership will accelerate the state’s recovery from wildfires, contribute to local and global climate goals, and generate carbon revenues for public good.
The afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR) carbon-finance project will focus on state trust lands across Grand, Huerfano, and Larimer counties and aims to begin planting trees in Fall 2025. Land Life will fund and implement the restoration in consultation with the Colorado State Forest ServiceOpens in a new tab., planting native tree species to support biodiversity, improve watershed health, and align with long-term forest management plans. The project will generate high-integrity carbon credits certified by Verra with a percentage of the revenue generated being returned to public funds, directly supporting public schools.
“We see this partnership as a powerful model for how public and private sectors can work together to protect and restore critical ecosystems while also advancing voluntary carbon markets,” said Rebekah Braswell, CEO at Land Life. “This project not only helps landscapes recover from severe wildfires, but it also highlights how nature-based solutions can generate measurable climate impact and tangible benefits for local communities.”
“This innovative partnership underscores how public lands can play a pivotal role in advancing climate solutions while continuing to generate revenue for public good,” said Mindy Gottsegen, Conservation Services Manager of the State Land Board. “Investing in nature-based solutions like reforestation helps build more resilient landscapes, benefiting both local communities and the environment.”
“This project is a clear example of how restoring nature is good for people and the planet,” added Clara Rowe, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Land Life. “By restoring forests and improving carbon sequestration on state trust lands, we’re creating healthier ecosystems while ensuring financial returns support future generations.”
The pilot project has the potential to expand to other state trust properties, offering a scalable approach to restore public lands degraded by wildfires. The collaboration represents a step forward in using innovative financing mechanisms to restore forests, enhance climate resilience, and contribute to the long-term stewardship of public lands.
Land Life has planted over three million trees across North America, with over half of those planted on wildfire-affected land in Colorado. This lease represents Land Life’s first partnership with the public sector in North America, expanding its reforestation expertise beyond private lands and setting a precedent for future collaborations on state trust properties.
Land Life’s ARR projects enhance the resilience of vulnerable landscapes by restoring native, diverse forests that are naturally less susceptible to catastrophic wildfires. By strategically re-establishing fire resilient planting configurations, Land Life’s ARR projects reduce fuel loads, improve soil health, and create natural firebreaks, ultimately safeguarding biodiversity, protecting communities, and bolstering the long-term ecological integrity of fire-prone regions across North America.
About the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners
The Colorado State Land Board is a constitutionally created agency that manages a $4.4 billion endowment of assets for the intergenerational benefit of Colorado’s K-12 schoolchildren and public institutions. The agency is the second-largest landowner in Colorado and generates revenue on behalf of beneficiaries by leasing three million surface acres and four million subsurface acres for agriculture, grazing, recreation, commercial real estate, rights-of-way, renewable energy, oil, gas, and solid minerals. The agency is entirely self-funded and receives no tax dollars.
About Land Life
Founded in Amsterdam in 2013, Land Life is a global nature restoration company leveraging science and technology to regenerate degraded land at scale. With a mission to create high-quality nature-based solutions, Land Life collaborates with corporations, landowners, and communities to restore ecosystems that benefit climate, biodiversity, and people. To date, the company has restored over 11,000 hectares, planted 11 million trees, and partnered with 40+ organizations worldwide. Taking a data-driven approach, Land Life designs, implements, and monitors reforestation projects with full transparency, integrating remote sensing, AI analysis, and ecological modeling to ensure lasting impact. Backed by scientific advisory boards and university collaborations, Land Life continues to drive innovative and scalable ecological restoration solutions.
