Google Backs Indonesia Forest Restoration With 260K Credits

Google is betting big on bringing tropical rainforests back to life in Indonesia, and the deal could transform both the climate and local livelihoods.

The tech company signed an agreement with Thryve.Earth to purchase 260,000 tons of carbon removal credits over the next decade. The credits come from a forest restoration project in Sulawesi, Indonesia, where degraded grasslands will transform back into thriving rainforest ecosystems.

The purchase happened through the Symbiosis Coalition, a group Google formed in 2024 with Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce to buy nature-based carbon removal credits. Chinese tech company Tencent also joined the effort, purchasing 300,000 tons of credits in its first carbon removal deal outside China.

The Sulawesi project tackles a landscape damaged by shifting agriculture, soil erosion, and invasive species. Instead of traditional reforestation, Thryve.Earth uses a mixed-crop farming system that layers different plants at various heights.

Sugar palm plants and timber trees form the upper canopy. Papayas, avocados, coffee, and bananas grow in the middle layer. Annual crops like chili and corn flourish at ground level.

This approach does more than capture carbon. It replenishes depleted soils, reduces fire risk, increases biodiversity, and boosts income for local farmers who work the land.

Previous projects using this model showed expanded tree cover, healthier soil, and better resilience to drought and fire within just a few years. Every hectare gets monitored with rigorous protocols to ensure the carbon removal and community benefits are real and measurable.

The Ripple Effect

This deal signals how tech companies are moving beyond traditional carbon offsets toward genuine ecosystem restoration. The ten-year commitment gives Thryve.Earth the financial certainty needed to scale operations and hire local workers.

Local farmers gain sustainable income sources that grow stronger over time as the forest matures. The restored forests will provide habitat for endangered species while protecting watersheds that communities depend on.

The agreement follows Google's March 2026 deal with Commonwealth Sortation for 200,000 biochar-related removal credits by 2030. Together, these partnerships show how private sector funding can drive large-scale environmental restoration.

When tech giants invest in turning grasslands back into forests, everyone wins.