In a fusion of Silicon Valley innovation and environmental stewardship, a Big Tech powerhouse is channeling significant resources into preserving America’s iconic forests.
Technology giant Apple has announced new investment through its Restore Fund, a global fund that backs conservation and regenerative agriculture projects launched in 2021. This investment targets the restoration and sustainable management of California’s coastal redwood forests, including the protection of 14,000 acres of the Gualala River Forest in Mendocino County, in partnership with non-profit The Conservation Fund. This investment highlights Apple’s commitment to high-quality, nature-based carbon removal as part of its wider environmental strategy, solidifying its role in scaling global conservation efforts.
Apple and The Conservation Fund seek to ensure long-term sustainable management of the forest, which serves as a critical habitat for hundreds of wildlife species and a key economic driver for northern California communities. In exchange, Apple will earn carbon credits produced from the forest’s growth over the years, contributing to its goal of balancing emissions through scalable nature-based solutions. The effort aligns with broader challenges in U.S. forestry, where pressures from development and climate change threaten vast tracts of land.
The Conservation Fund President and CEO Larry Selzer stated, “America’s forests are under immense pressure, with 13 million acres at risk of vanishing by 2050. This is one of the defining conservation challenges of our time. Forests are a cornerstone of rural economies, supporting more than 2 million jobs. Our collaboration with Apple is a powerful model for protecting working forests, and we’re eager to replicate it with partners across the country.”
Apple Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson stated, “We’re thrilled to help protect California’s iconic coastal redwoods as part of our growing Restore Fund initiative. Forests are one of the most powerful technologies we have for removing carbon from the atmosphere. Our global investments in nature are leveraging that technology while supporting communities, stimulating local economies, and enhancing biodiversity in ecosystems around the world.”
This project builds on the iPhone maker’s ambitious Apple 2030 plan to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire footprint by decade’s end, including a 75 percent emissions reduction from 2015 levels, already surpassing 60 percent progress. By 2030, Apple and its suppliers aim to remove 9.6 million metric tons of carbon annually through global initiatives. Apple suppliers TSMC and Murata have also invested in the Restore Fund, bolstering its impact.
The Gualala River Forest, a 14,000-acre expanse rich in towering coast redwoods, sugar pine and California black oak, is a biodiversity hotspot supporting over 200 wildlife species, including the threatened northern spotted owl and coho salmon. Through sustainable practices like selective harvesting, invasive species control and reforestation of native hardwoods, The Conservation Fund will restore degraded areas while maintaining the forest’s role as a working landscape that supports local timber economies. Steady monitoring will track carbon sequestration, potentially capturing thousands of metric tons annually, alongside biodiversity gains, ensuring long-term environmental and economic resilience.
Apple’s Restore Fund traces its origins to a 2021 launch in partnership with investment bank Goldman Sachs and Conservation International, initially focused on scaling investments in nature-based carbon removal. It expanded in 2023 with a new fund managed by Climate Asset Management, and further in 2025 through direct U.S. and Latin American investments, evolving into a multifaceted vehicle for global sustainability. Prior collaborations with The Conservation Fund have already protected over 36,000 acres of working forests in the U.S. states of Maine and North Carolina, demonstrating a proven track record in this space. For ag investors, this signals growing opportunities in regenerative forestry, where tech-driven capital meets natural assets.
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