How do you build a forest-restoration project? Start by becoming a cattle farmer

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Ponterra, a carbon-removal startup, is restoring degraded cattle pastures in Panama’s • Azuero Peninsula into rainforest while addressing the challenge of relocating cattle sustainably
• Led by CEO Celia Francis, the company secured an offtake agreement with Microsoft, which prepurchased 1.6 million tons of carbon credits to support the project

🔭 The context: Millions of acres in Central and South America have been cleared for cattle farming, exacerbating deforestation and carbon emissions
• Ponterra not only reforests these lands but also ensures displaced cattle are relocated to sustainable farms, balancing ecological restoration with practical challenges

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Projects like Ponterra's are crucial in combating deforestation, enhancing biodiversity, and addressing climate change through carbon sequestration
• By adhering to rigorous standards like Verra’s, they also ensure measurable, verifiable environmental impact

⏭️ What's next: Ponterra plans to expand reforestation efforts and explore biodiversity credits alongside carbon credits
• Advanced market commitments, like Microsoft’s, are expected to drive long-term sustainability and scalability for such projects

💬 One quote: "You wake up one day with a moment of clarity that it’s really up to you." – Celia Francis, CEO of Ponterra

📈 One stat: Since 2017, 13 million tons of carbon removals have been purchased globally, with Ponterra contributing to this growing market

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