Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Trees for Farmers

Trees for Farmers is a scalable native reforestation initiative co-developed by Rabobank and The Green Branch to transform degraded pasturelands in Brazil’s Amazon-Cerrado transition zone into biodiverse, productive, and climate-resilient ecosystems.

Verra Registry

Brazil

20,000

hm2

Reforestation project

Expected 5.1 million tonnes of CO₂

Project ID 4727

Project design and unique impact

We guide you through each stage of the project development lifecycle:

Rabobank-powered scalability

Rabobank’s position as Brazil’s leading agribank, with access to over 14 million hectares across 1,500 clients, uniquely enables rapid landowner enrollment, backed by green finance incentives and commercial banking tools.

Strategic location

Located in Mato Grosso’s Gaúcha do Norte municipality, at the confluence of the Amazon,TFF restores ecological corridors in one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots.

Grouped modular design

As a grouped project, TFF scales restoration through replicable modules combining assisted natural regeneration, direct seeding, and silvopastoral systems, applicable across diverse landowner properties.

Tech-enabled implementation

The Story.

The Amazon’s arc of deforestation has left millions of hectares degraded and underused. Trees for Farmers was launched in 2024 to reverse this trend by offering landowners a financially viable path to ecological restoration.

The project began with a 91.25-hectare pilot on Botuverá Farm: a 23,500-hectare property in Gaúcha do Norte, Mato Grosso. This proof of concept demonstrates how ecological restoration can coexist with commercial agriculture. Over time, the model will be replicated across at least 10,000 hectares through Rabobank’s vast client network and phased investment strategy.

Rabobank’s Innovation Department financed the pilot, covering project design under Verra’s certification standards, legal structuring, and foundational implementation. Its commercial division is now exploring scalable carbon-linked financing models, offering farmers tangible incentives to convert degraded land into ecological assets.

With The Green Branch as the project proponent, Trees for Farmers is managed with rigorous adherence to Verra certification standards, robust stakeholder engagement, and a deep commitment to long-term impact.

Partner

Rabobank is the project’s initiator and financier, leveraging its leadership in sustainable agriculture and direct access to thousands of commercial farms. Its role spans farmer recruitment, green finance, carbon offtake and ongoing operational support. Rabobank’s commercial banking division is exploring scalable financing models linked to high-quality carbon offtake agreements. This offers a clear path to long-term financial sustainability and scalability of the project. The bank’s broader sustainability strategy supports this vision through three pillars: sustainable agriculture, forest conservation, and restoration. By promoting loan discounts for sustainable land use, Rabobank provides a direct financial incentive for farmers to join the project and transition degraded areas into productive ecological assets.

The Green Branch serves as Project Proponent, bringing a five-year track record in Brazilian ARR projects and VCS/CCB certification. It oversees project design, certification, and implementation with local partners.

Environmental impact.

Trees for Farmers restores degraded lands with over 30 native species, including endangered trees, enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services. Reforested zones reconnect fragmented habitats and rebuild ecological functions such as soil health, water cycling, and pollination.

The project’s ARR approach blends direct planting and natural succession, tailored to local conditions and designed for minimal long-term maintenance. Drone-based monitoring ensures restoration success is verifiable and scalable.

Community Involvement.

Trees for Farmers enables landowners to turn degraded land into income-generating ecosystems through carbon credits. The project puts farmers in control and centers around strengthening the farmers position and community empowerment. Each participant co-designs their restoration plan, receives technical assistance, and becomes a long-term stakeholder in the project’s success. By monetizing degraded land through carbon credits, Trees for Farmers offers a new revenue stream to landowners directly.

Trees for Farmers sources native seeds from local collectors, ensuring genetic integrity and promoting traditional ecological knowledge. This seed supply chain supports rural livelihoods and strengthens cultural ties to the landscape.

Additionally, participatory biodiversity mapping engages communities in identifying and monitoring native flora and fauna, fostering a sense of ownership and long-term stewardship. Through technical training, transparent benefit-sharing, and capacity building, Trees for Farmers lays the groundwork for resilient, self-sustaining rural economies linked to nature restoration.