Case Study: NatureRe & Treeconomy
Unlocking Finance for Restoration at Scale
Case Study
Project Development
Jul 30, 2025
Carolina Amu Trujillo
For NatureRe, scaling high-integrity ecosystem restoration requires a robust, data-driven approach. To accelerate their impact in Colombia, they partnered with Treeconomy to streamline their site eligibility assessments. Our analysis provided the independent evidence needed to build stakeholder trust, unlock new financing opportunities, and create a credible foundation for growth.
The Mission: Powering Natural Regeneration at Scale
NatureRe is on a mission to restore highly degraded landscapes by leveraging the power of Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR). Their reference project in Antioquia, Colombia, is transforming 700 hectares of land degraded by intensive cattle ranching into a thriving, resilient ecosystem.
Their vision is ambitious. "We are currently scaling our project from our 700-hectare 'first instance' to a total area of +40,000 hectares," says Daire Kelly, Head of Carbon Solutions at Nature-Re. "Our vision is to manage +€1 billion from 2030 onwards and remove 140M tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, creating one of the world's largest natural reserves."
This work is built on a holistic model that puts "carbon, biodiversity and society at the forefront," training and employing former cattle ranchers as forest rangers and ensuring that local communities are co-architects of the restoration.
Site visit
The Challenge: Building a Credible Path for Expansion
As NatureRe prepared to scale their operations significantly, they faced the critical challenge of assessing large areas of land quickly without sacrificing quality. They "needed a faster, more robust way to conduct reliable site eligibility assessments to accelerate [their] impact without compromising quality". This operational hurdle was compounded by the technical demands of the evolving carbon market. According to Daire, "adapting to the transition to the VM0047 methodology presented complexities around baselining and carbon quantification that required specialised expertise and tools to address effectively". To expand with confidence, they needed a partner equipped to handle these new technical demands.
Project Site Before & After
The Solution: A Data-Driven Foundation for Validation and Growth
Treeconomy’s Project Site Eligibility assessment, a core component of the Project Launchpad, provided the exact solution NatureRe needed. Our analysis delivered a clear, data-driven foundation for determining site eligibility under VM0047.
"Their independent, third-party assessment added a vital layer of transparency, accuracy, and accountability, helping to build confidence in the credibility of our project," notes Daire. This provided the evidence they needed to move forward quickly and confidently.
The Partnership Experience: Collaborative, Adaptive, and Essential
The collaboration was defined by a flexible and supportive approach, tailored to the unique context of NatureRe's project.
"Our experience working with the Treeconomy team has been extremely positive," says Daire. "They were flexible, open, and professional throughout the process, taking the time to understand the unique context of our project."
The Impact: Unlocking Finance and Accelerating Community Benefits
The results of the collaboration were direct and impactful, leading to enhanced stakeholder trust and new commercial opportunities.
For Daire, the value was clear:
"Treeconomy's reliable technology and independent analysis helped enhance stakeholder trust... It also helped us unlock financing opportunities with several high-value clients who prioritised transparency and data-driven verification."
He adds that the partnership extended beyond the technical work: "Treeconomy generously opened their network to us, creating valuable connections that continue to support our growth and impact”.
Aspirations: Showcasing a Model for Global Restoration
Moving forward, NatureRe aims to showcase the power of its community-backed assisted natural regeneration model, using its success in Colombia as a blueprint to scale similar initiatives globally. Over the next 6-9 months, their focus is on streamlining operations and preparing for their first carbon credit issuance in 2026, leveraging trusted partners like Treeconomy to deliver impact at scale.
Rangers
Key Advice for Fellow Developers
Daire shares a key learning from the project: "Work with trusted partners and use robust, science-backed technologies to enhance credibility, transparency, and data integrity."
Ready to Build Your High-Integrity Project?
NatureRe's success illustrates how targeted, data-driven assessments can build the credibility needed to unlock finance and scale impact. If you're developing a nature-based project, Treeconomy is here to help you navigate the complexities and build a fundable, high-integrity plan.
Learn More About Our Services: Discover how our Project Launchpad can support your project's journey with assessments like Project Site Eligibility, Carbon Projections, and Dynamic Performance Benchmarking.
Ready to Move Forward? If you're looking to de-risk your project, ensure compliance, and attract investment, get in touch with our commercial team today to discuss your specific needs.
