In this episode , our host Alexander Watson is joined by Andreas Eke, co-founder of The Generation Forest, a pioneer in tropical forestry with over 30 years of experience. Join us as we explore what makes a high-quality reforestation project. Andreas reveals how they've developed a unique model that blends ecological sustainability with economic viability, creating productive, biodiverse, and resilient forests. He discusses the concept of "engineered naturalness" and how their approach challenges traditional forestry methods.

In this episode, Alexander Watson (Founder & CEO, OpenForests) sits down with Mathias Perobelli Schmidt, Agroforestry Investment Specialist at Ecosia, to unpack the concept of Circular Funding—a regenerative finance model that recycles returns into tree-planting, agroforestry, and forest conservation rather than paying dividends. We explore outcome-based loans, how biodiversity and social impact de-risk projects, and real investments across Latin America. Hit subscribe, join the conversation, and let's grow a movement Beyond the Canopy.

Welcome to Beyond the Canopy — the podcast by OpenForests, where nature takes center stage. From climate finance to forest technologies, from policies to on-the-ground impact — we bring you bold conversations with those shaping the future of nature restoration and conservation.

In this episode, Alexander Watson (Founder & CEO, OpenForests) sits down with Alejandro Diaz, Landscape Finance Manager at Commoland, to discuss how to unlock substantial fundings for large scale landscape restoration and scape from a project view to a more holistic approach and we'll dive into their 4Returns Funding Approach.

In this episode, Alexander Watson (Founder & CEO, OpenForests) sits down with Michael Rumberg, Managing Director at Volkswagen ClimatePartner, to answer a critical question: What makes a forest carbon project truly high-quality? You’ll discover: 🌳 What defines real impact — from increasing carbon stocks and biodiversity to earning community trust 🚩 How to spot red flags and manage project risks 🤝 Why long-term success depends on transparency, co-development, and aligning diverse stakeholder interests ⚖️ How to balance carbon goals with social outcomes 📈 Insights into the future of biodiversity, MRV, and carbon markets Dive into the evolving carbon markets, the challenges of biodiversity measurement, and Michael's personal drive to channel private finance into nature-based solutions. A must-listen for anyone keen on ecosystem restoration, impact investing, and the future of carbon credits! Hit subscribe, join the conversation, and let's grow a movement beyond the canopy. #ForestCarbon #NatureBasedSolutions #ImpactInvesting #EcosystemRestoration #ClimateAction #CarbonOffsets #SustainableForestry #ESGInvestment #Biodiversité #Podcast #BeyondtheCanopy

Join us for the first coffee and geo-transparency talk with Breece Robertson - geospatial expert, conservation champion, author, and community planning expert.

Learn how to establish diverse food forests that create income for rural communities, store carbon, and restore nature for rare animals such as the Indonesian Tiger. Paul Burgers the Founder and CEO of CO2 Operate B.V. a social enterprise, shares his experiences of successful collaboration with rural farmers in Indonesia to scaling sustainable agroforestry.

Shubhend Sharma, an experienced afforestation expert, shares his knowledge on how to create natural, wild, maintenance-free, native forests in urban environments and on degraded lands.

Brian Cohen, Director of the Global Programme of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR), gives us a unique insight into how sustainable Bamboo production is contributing to landscape restoration.

Can only industrial monoculture forest plantations yield high returns? In this episode, we are going to challenge this paradigm of either returns or sustainability. We will do that together with my Guest Juan Bronson, Co-Founder, and COO of Izabal Agroforest S.A, Guatemala. Juan is a timber & agro-forestry operational manager and investment specialist with a long track record.