Tree Company Pivots from Planting to Burial for Carbon Credits

When planting trees isn't enough to pay the bills, one company decided to bury them instead.

Mast Reforestation has shifted its business strategy from traditional tree planting to a groundbreaking approach: burying biomass to capture carbon underground. The company is now selling carbon removal credits on voluntary markets, offering a new revenue stream that could make large-scale forest restoration financially sustainable.

The pivot addresses a fundamental challenge in the reforestation world. Planting trees takes years to sequester meaningful amounts of carbon, making it hard to generate immediate carbon credits that companies want to buy today.

By burying wood and plant material, Mast can lock carbon away faster and more permanently. When biomass decomposes underground in the right conditions, it keeps carbon out of the atmosphere for potentially thousands of years. This creates verifiable carbon removal that meets the strict standards voluntary carbon credit buyers are looking for.

The shift follows broader market trends in climate solutions. As companies face pressure to meet net-zero commitments, demand for high-quality carbon removal credits has surged. Traditional tree-planting projects have faced scrutiny over whether they truly deliver the carbon benefits they promise.

The Ripple Effect

Mast's approach could open new pathways for funding forest health projects that might not pencil out financially otherwise. If biomass burial proves scalable, it gives landowners and conservation groups another tool to generate revenue while managing forests sustainably.

The model also creates opportunities to use wood waste from forest thinning and fire prevention work. Instead of burning slash piles or letting them rot and release carbon back into the air, that material becomes a climate solution.

This evolution shows how impact-driven companies are adapting to market realities without abandoning their core mission. Mast still aims to restore forests and fight climate change, but now with a business model that better matches what carbon credit buyers will actually pay for.

The voluntary carbon market remains complex and evolving, but innovations like biomass burial could help separate truly effective climate solutions from greenwashing. Early results will help determine whether this approach can scale to make a meaningful dent in atmospheric carbon levels while keeping reforestation companies financially healthy.