Apple Invests in California Redwood Forest Carbon Removal Project

Apple announced an investment in the sustainable management and restoration of the Gualala River Forest, a coastal redwood forest in Mendocino County, California, through a partnership with The Conservation Fund. The project generates carbon credits from the forest's growth over time, contributing to Apple's goal to be carbon neutral across its footprint by 2030.

Under the partnership, The Conservation Fund will continue sustainably managing the forest, while Apple receives the carbon credits generated by its growth. The project forms part of Apple's Restore Fund initiative, originally launched in 2021 with Conservation International and Goldman Sachs. The fund was expanded in 2023 with a $200 million fund managed by Climate Asset Management, and again in 2025 with direct investments in nature-based projects across the US and Latin America. To date, Apple has invested in two dozen conservation and regenerative agriculture projects across six continents through the Restore Fund.

Apple's broader carbon strategy targets a 75% reduction in global emissions by 2030 from a 2015 base, with high-quality carbon removal credits balancing residual emissions. The company has already surpassed a 60% emissions reduction and says its suppliers are collectively aiming to remove 9.6 million metric tonnes of carbon annually through removal projects by 2030. Apple suppliers TSMC and Murata have also invested in the Restore Fund, indicating the initiative's potential as a model for supply chain climate collaboration.

The Gualala River Forest investment reflects a growing corporate preference for nature-based carbon removal solutions that combine carbon sequestration with biodiversity and community co-benefits. Coastal redwood forests are among the most effective carbon sinks per unit area, with sequestration rates substantially above average for temperate forests. As the voluntary carbon market continues to face scrutiny over credit integrity, Apple's emphasis on independently verified, nature-based removals with long-term land protection aligns with tightening standards for high-quality carbon credits.

Key figure — $200 million Climate Asset Management fund under Restore Fund initiative