Shows
Beyond the CanopyForests: Reasons to be hopeful with Marie-Noëlle Keijzer from WeForestWhat does it really take to restore ecosystems at scale, beyond planting trees?In this episode of Beyond the Canopy, we sit down with Marie-Noëlle Keijzer, CEO of WeForest, to talk honestly about the realities of ecosystem restoration.From restoring more than 80,000 hectares to planting over 100 million trees, WeForest’s work reaches far beyond forests, it supports livelihoods, strengthens communities, and builds long-term resilience for people and nature alike.Together, we explore what works (and what doesn’t) in large-scale restoration, why community leadership is essential, and how science, transparency, and integrity are n...
2026-07-2844 min
Beyond the CanopyHow WWF partners with IKEA and SIG to ACT for FORESTSWhat if protecting forests was actually good for business? In this episode, host Alexander sits down with Tim Cronin, Global Lead of WWF's Forests Forward Program, to explore how some of the world's biggest companies — IKEA, SIG, Interulco and others — are turning forest conservation into a core business strategy.From supply chain resilience to regulatory pressure and emerging carbon markets, Tim breaks down why the conversation around corporate sustainability has moved from the PR team into the boardroom — and what that shift means for the future of our forests.🌿 What you'll learn:How...
2026-06-0952 min
Beyond the Canopy40 Years Protecting Mexico's Sierra Gorda : Grupo Ecológico Sierra GordaWhat does it take to protect one of Mexico's most biodiverse landscapes for 40 years? In this episode, Alexander Watson speaks with Marta "Pati" Ruiz Corzo, founder and UN Champion of the Earth, and Laura P. Burke Pérez-Arce, president and carbon finance architect of Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda (GESG), the organization behind the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, the largest socially managed protected area on Earth. They talk about fighting highways and dam projects, building a locally adapted carbon protocol that actually works for smallholders, and why global standards kept failing communities like theirs. They al...
2026-05-1255 min
Beyond the Canopy250M Trees and a Search Engine That Refuses to Cash Out: ECOSIAWhat happens when a search engine gives up its right to ever profit and puts every euro into restoring the planet instead?In this episode, host Alexander Watson sits down with Christian Kroll, founder and CEO of Ecosia, and Pieter van Midwoud, Ecosia's Tree Planting Officer, just days before the company celebrates a landmark milestone: 250 million trees growing across more than 40 countries.But this conversation goes well beyond the number.Christian unpacks why he legally signed away his shares to a purpose foundation - making Ecosia unsellable...
2026-04-2157 min
Beyond the CanopyForests: reasons to be hopeful with Marie-Noëlle KeijzerWhat does it really take to restore ecosystems at scale, beyond planting trees?
In this episode of Beyond the Canopy, we sit down with Marie-Noëlle Keijzer, CEO of WeForest, to talk honestly about the realities of ecosystem restoration.
From restoring more than 80,000 hectares to planting over 100 million trees, WeForest’s work reaches far beyond forests, it supports livelihoods, strengthens communities, and builds long-term resilience for people and nature alike.
Together, we explore what works (and what doesn’t) in large-scale restoration, why community leadership is essential, and how science, transparency, and integrity are non-negotiable if we want restoration to deliv...
2026-01-2646 min
Beyond the CanopyTim Christophersen: We're in a Toxic Relationship with NatureWelcome to Beyond the Canopy — the podcast by OpenForests, where nature takes center stage.
In this episode, host Alexander talks with Tim Christophersen, Vice President of Climate Action at Salesforce and former UN Environment Expert, about his groundbreaking book "Generation Restoration: How to Fix Our Relationship with Mother Nature".
Tim, a key architect of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, shares his journey from UN diplomat to corporate climate leader. Discover why he argues the climate crisis is fundamentally a relationship crisis with nature, and how we can cultivate "conditional optimism" to drive action.
This is essential listening for anyone in...
2025-11-2055 min
Beyond the CanopyThe "Fake" Rainforest that pays for itselfIn 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.
2025-09-1650 min
Beyond the CanopyEcosia's CIRCULAR FundingIn 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.
2025-09-1644 min
Beyond the CanopyBeyond the Canopy TrailerWelcome 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.
2025-09-1101 min
Beyond the CanopyCommonland’s 4Returns Funding ApproachIn 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.
2025-08-2052 min
Beyond the CanopyWhat makes a GOOD Carbon ProjectIn 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 ch...
2025-07-1041 min
The Regeneration Will Be FundedStorytelling Through Maps - Alexander Watson and Mange Kumarasamy (explorer.land)Alexander Watson is the founder and CEO of OpenForests. Mange Kumarasamy is the head of strategic partnerships. https://explorer.land
2024-11-091h 02
Beyond the CanopyCoffee and geo-transparency with Breece RobertsonWe guarantee an informal yet highly interesting talk for your morning, afternoon, or evening coffee (or tea if that's your kind of cup).Breece has a lot of exciting stories to tell!Breece Robertson has more than 20 years of experience leading collaborative and strategic initiatives that leverage geospatial technologies for land, water, equity, and climate issues. She is a master of community-driven GIS approaches for strategic land protection.Breece currently holds the position of Director of Impact Assessment and Monitoring at One Tree Planted, a global environmental restoration and reforestation organization. She is...
2023-11-2254 min
Climate CareersClimate Careers in Nature-based Solutions with Alex Watson, Founder & CEO of OpenForestsNature-based solutions are all about working with nature instead of against it. And in times like today, we might wonder: how can we integrate other inevitable components of our society - like technology- without tipping the scales in the wrong direction? 🌱Enter Alexander Watson, Founder and CEO of explorer.land by OpenForests, a platform that is all about utilizing #technology and advanced mapping techniques to build transparency and measurable impact of forest projects. Not only that, the platform is an ecosystem for connection. Donors, investors, and product buyers come together with exciting storytelling and data on an interactive map. Ne...
2023-11-1351 min
Smart Forests RadioPatrick Ribeiro: Digital Tools for Transparency in Forest RestorationIn this radio episode, we speak to Patrick Ribeiro, founder of OpenForests, a technology company that develops digital tools such as the explorer.land platform for forest restoration initiatives. Patrick discusses how digital technologies – from drones to satellites to interactive maps – can facilitate data-led storytelling that builds transparency between on-the-ground restoration projects, stakeholders and investors, and why it is important to take a multidimensional approach to forests' value.
Interviewers: Max Ritts and Trishant Simlai
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Image source: explorer.land, https://explorer.land/x/projects
2023-09-2024 min
Beyond the CanopyFood forests feed and store carbonPaul Burgers, Ph.D.In this episode, Food forests feed and store carbon Paul Burgers the Founder and CEO of CO2 Operate B.V. and Gula Gula, will explain and share his experiences of what it takes to build up and scale a community-driven agro-forest project. Email: p.burgers@co2operate.nl Projects: https://explorer.land/x/organization/co2/Website: https://gulagula.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/burgerspaul/AboutIn the Interview, Paul will describe how carbon credits bring in the necessary funding to...
2021-03-0250 min
Beyond the CanopyHow to grow your own forestAboutIn this Forest Landscape Stories episode, we will learn about the afforestation method developed by Dr. Miyawaki, a Japanese botanist and expert in plant ecology and natural forests. His method results in maintenance-free, wild, and native forests. These forests grow in cities, along roads, around buildings, and in our own gardens. They even grow on very degraded land, under extreme conditions.We will learn about the six-step process that everyone can employ to grow a forest.Check out the Open Source guide on how to Do-It-YourselfVideo tutorials on how...
2020-04-2457 min
Beyond the CanopyBamboo for landscape restorationFacts about Bamboo
There are around 30 million hectares of bamboo in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. It is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. Certain species can grow up to 1-meter a day. Even though some Bamboo species grow very tall like trees, Bamboo belongs to the grass family.
Bamboo and Rattan can contribute to livelihoods in many ways; providing food, fiber, and fuel which provide the basis for thousands of different products. The Bamboo sector is estimated to be worth 60 billion USD a year.
Topics covered
In...
2019-05-1055 min
Beyond the CanopyFrom a cattle ranch to agroforestryBackground of Izabal Agro-Forest
Interactive project exploration at explorer.land
Izabal Agro-Forest, S.A. (IAF) is an award-winning farm and timberland management company headquartered in Guatemala.
in 1989 IAF started establishing its first production forests. They started with rubber and teak. 3 years later in 1992 IAF has increased the number of tree species and also planted and managed threatened species like Rosewood, Mahogany, Tropical Cedar and Zebrawood.
In recent years IAF has strengthened its agroforestry component by also integrating fine-flavor cacao, vanilla, coconut, and avocado. But they did not stop there. In addition...
2019-03-2935 min