NativState Forest Restoration Program
Get Paid to Grow a Forest on Your Land
Tired of crop land or pastures that aren’t producing? You’ve got another option. NativState helps landowners like you generate income by turning unused land into a thriving, managed forest — at no cost to you.
We handle everything from planting the trees to long-term management, so you can enjoy your land and leave a lasting legacy for your family. We’ve helped over 650 landowners restore and protect more than 700,000 acres, and we can help you too.
For a limited time, NativState is increasing the Advance Royalty Payment offered to enrolled landowners, learn more by submitting your land for a Free Carbon Assessment through the form on this page.
Why Choose the NativState Forest Restoration Program?
We get it. Committing your land to a long-term program is a big decision. As fellow landowners, we’re here to help you weigh your options and make the right decision.
We Live Where
You Live
We are local landowners who live in the same communities as you do, we’ll be on-site and available to ensure your project goes great.
A New Income
Source
Receive a new income source from a company that has already returned millions to local landowners, even while your new forest is growing.
Leave a Lasting
Legacy
Conserve your land for future generations to enjoy while improving wildlife habitat and water quality.
Benefits of Enrolling in our Forest Restoration Program
A New Income Stream
From the sale of carbon credits.
Long Term Asset Value
A well-established forest increases property value.
Environmental Benefits
Increase biodiversity, improve air quality, create wildlife habitat and reduce run-off and erosion.
Low Operational Burden
Our team handles technical, measurement, and verification work.
Carbon Credit Development
at No Cost to You
Our goal is to place each acre of your land in its highest and best use. Our foresters and carbon development team will meet with you to complete a full assessment of your property’s carbon potential to maximize value and meet your long-term goals for your forest.
See if You Qualify
After sharing some basic information here a NativState Forest Carbon Specialist will follow up with a discovery meeting. This is a great time to ask questions and learn more about our program.
Get Your Land’s Carbon Value
We will prepare a Forest Carbon Assessment to determine if your land qualifies for our program and evaluate its full potential. A minimum of 20 acres of land that has not been forested in at least 10 years is required.
Sign On
After you’ve met with our team and we’ve determined your land is eligible for our program, we’ll present you with an official offer and you will have a chance to decide if we are the right fit for the future of your land. Once you sign your carbon agreement our forestry team will begin taking action on site preparation and planting.
Get Paid
After signing the agreement, an advance on future royalties will be paid for four (4) years while your land is prepared and planted with your new tree stands. The remaining income begins once carbon credits are verified and sold and continues through the 60-year program.
We Take it From Here
NativState manages the project to make sure your trees are healthy and carbon is being sequestered according to plan. We do this for the duration of the 60-year program. So, you can be sure that your vision for your land’s conservation will be upheld for at least that far into the future.
Ready to Get Started?
You have an opportunity to get paid for conservation. Waiting means delaying long-term benefits to your family and your land.
Submit Your Property
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Forest Restoration Program?
NativState’s Forest Restoration Program helps landowners earn additional income through the sale of carbon credits by planting trees on non-forested land. Also referred to as Afforestation, Restoration & Revegetation (ARR), NativState’s program is focused solely on Afforestation. Afforestation is the method of planting durable forests on land where none have existed for at least ten (10) years prior to planting.
NativState’s Forest Restoration program builds on a successful track record of delivering access to the global voluntary carbon market (VCM) for small landowners across the southern United States.
Who is eligible for the program?
Landowners with at least 20 total acres with at least 10 contiguous acres in any single tract that meet the following criteria:
- Non-forested for at least 10 years; this includes pasture and unproductive cropland
- Suitable conditions for tree growth, such as soil and climate
- Not previously enrolled in a conservation easement (WRE, CRP, etc.).
- These easements may be able to be added to the acres after enrollment in NativState’s Forest Restoration Program
- Tracts or parcels must have less than 10% current woody biomass (trees) on them
- Tracts need to be moderately well drained, consistent flooding over acres may disqualify them from enrollment
Each project must meet specific carbon credit development criteria; NativState performs this assessment during the feasibility stage of enrollment. NativState is currently prioritizing land in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Row crop fields, pastures, hayfields, open areas, etc., are the best qualified for NativState’s Forest Restoration program.
What are the benefits of enrolling in NativState’s Forest Restoration Program?
- A new income stream from the sale of high-quality carbon credits.
- Long-term asset value, as a well-established forest increases property value
- Environmental benefits: increased biodiversity, improved air quality, growing wildlife habitat, and reduced run-off and erosion are all outcomes of effective forest restoration
- Low operational burden: NativState does the work – our team handles the site preparation, planting, monitoring, maintenance, and ongoing work for building your forest, as well as all technical work for developing, verifying, marketing, and selling high-quality carbon credits from your land
How are landowners paid?
Landowners receive an advance on future royalties while trees are planted, grow, and until carbon credits are sold from your land, this is typically a 4 to 5-year period.
NativState’s current standard advance is $50 per acre per year.
But, for the next 10,000 acres enrolled in NativState’s program, the advance payment is $100 per acre per year in year 1, and then $50 per acre per year for years 2 through 4.
This covers the time while newly planted trees are growing on your land to reach sufficient size to sequester measureable amounts of carbon.
Once credits are developed and sold, landowners receive a royalty payment, starting at 35% of credit sales.
What is the landowner’s commitment?
Forest Restoration projects require a 60-year commitment. This ensures that the forest grows enough to store significant carbon. The agreement usually includes implementing sustainable forest management practices and preventing activities (like clearcutting) that would reduce carbon storage.
Who pays for planting and maintenance?
NativState bears all costs for site preparation, planting, monitoring, care, credit development, and credit sales. On an ongoing basis, landowners are asked to provide periodic access to the land for NativState personnel (always with sufficient notice), light site preparation, and ongoing cooperation.
Can landowners still use their land for other purposes?
Yes! Many projects allow for compatible uses such as low-impact grazing (after seedling establishment), recreation, or beekeeping. Activities that could harm tree growth or carbon storage, like logging or intensive agriculture, are restricted.
What kind of trees are planted?
Approximately 300 – 400 trees are planted per acre. The characteristics of the site being enrolled will largely dictate what species of trees will be planted.
Other considerations include:
- Landowner preference
- Selection of a minimum of three hardwood species
- Species must be native to the area where they are being planted
What are the risks?
Forest restoration simply plants trees where there were none. NativState bears the expense and maintenance for the projects. While minimal, risks associated with such projects include market fluctuations in carbon credit prices and natural events (fire, storms, pests) that could damage trees.
Forest Restoration projects include a buffer pool – a reserve of credits set aside to cover losses from unforeseen events.
How does this program work with conservation programs such as WRE or CRP?
Conservation easements may be compatible with NativState’s program; however, land must be enrolled in our program prior to enrollment in another.
Before taking any steps towards enrollment in another conservation program, discuss the program with your NativState Forest Carbon Specialist.
How are carbon credits developed from my land?
Following the Verra VM0047 methodology, NativState plants your land, monitors its change as trees grow, and perform all necessary simulations and models to deliver verified credits that are then sold to NativState’s corporate partners. Many times, these credits are already “pre-sold” as they are valuable tools for corporations who have set goals to reduce their climate impact and positively impact the communities in which they operate.
Why should I work with NativState?
Since we entered the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) in 2021, NativState has delivered meaningful results and impact to our landowner partners as well as our corporate partners. These results include:
- Over 700,000 acres of existing forests enrolled and conserved
- Over 650 landowner partners entrusting their existing forests to the NativState team
- Over 4,500,000 high-quality carbon credits verified and issued
- Over $20,000,000 returned to landowners through our long-term and strategic sales of high-quality carbon credits to our corporate partners
How do I get started?
- Get started by contacting NativState for a free carbon assessment of your acres
- Our team will discuss your goals and confirm eligibility, project design, and potential returns
- A Carbon Agreement will formalize roles, responsibilities, and revenue-sharing
- Implementation – NativState handles medium site preparation, planting, monitoring, and credit sales