Beyond the Canopy

OpenForests
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Welcome 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.

  1. 40 Years Protecting Mexico's Sierra Gorda : Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda

    May 11

    40 Years Protecting Mexico's Sierra Gorda : Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda

    What 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 also discuss the strategic alliance with OpenForests that brought geo-transparency and a new monitoring infrastructure to Sierra Gorda's conservation model. This is conservation as it rarely gets told: stubborn, spiritual, deeply local, and quietly revolutionary. 🌿 Subscribe for new episodes of Beyond the Canopy, the podcast exploring the most innovative approaches to ecosystem restoration and impact-driven investment.

    56 min
  2. 250M Trees and a Search Engine That Refuses to Cash Out: ECOSIA

    Apr 21

    250M Trees and a Search Engine That Refuses to Cash Out: ECOSIA

    What 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 and profit-free for individuals - and why he's now building Europe's first independent search index as a matter of geopolitical sovereignty. With US big tech dominance increasingly weaponizable, Ecosia may be quietly becoming critical digital infrastructure for the free world. Pieter pulls back the curtain on what 250 million trees actually means on the ground: 80% survival rates, 2,000 native species, independent audits by botanical gardens, satellite monitoring, and a portfolio that deliberately keeps 50% of projects in the hardest-to-finance category because some ecosystems can't wait for a business case. Together, they explore: How Ecosia's circular funding model reinvests returns from agroforestry and renewable energy back into restorationWhy carbon markets alone will never solve nature finance and what stable, non-speculative funding actually looks likeThe parallel between the energy transition and land use: where regenerative agriculture is today, and what needs to shiftWhat project developers need to know to connect with Ecosia's tree planting programWhy eating less meat and switching your default search engine are two of the most underrated climate actions available right now This episode is for nature project developers, corporate sustainability teams, impact investors, and anyone who wants to understand how technology and landscape restoration can work together, not against each other.

    58 min
  3. Tim Christophersen: We're in a Toxic Relationship with Nature

    11/20/2025

    Tim Christophersen: We're in a Toxic Relationship with Nature

    Welcome 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 interested in building a more resilient relationship with the planet.

    56 min
  4. The "Fake" Rainforest that pays for itself

    09/16/2025

    The "Fake" Rainforest that pays for itself

    In 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.

    50 min
  5. Ecosia's CIRCULAR Funding

    09/16/2025

    Ecosia's CIRCULAR Funding

    In 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.

    44 min
  6. Beyond the Canopy Trailer

    09/11/2025

    Beyond the Canopy Trailer

    Welcome 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.

    1 min
  7. Commonland’s 4Returns Funding Approach

    08/20/2025

    Commonland’s 4Returns Funding Approach

    In 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.

    52 min
  8. What makes a GOOD Carbon Project

    07/10/2025

    What makes a GOOD Carbon Project

    In 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 channel private finance into nature-based solutions. A must-listen for anyone keen on ecosystem restoration, impact investing, and the future of carbon credits! Hit subscribe, join the conversation, and let's grow a movement beyond the canopy. #ForestCarbon #NatureBasedSolutions #ImpactInvesting #EcosystemRestoration #ClimateAction #CarbonOffsets #SustainableForestry #ESGInvestment #Biodiversité #Podcast #BeyondtheCanopy

    41 min
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Trailer

About

Welcome 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.

Information

  • Creator
    OpenForests
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 OpenForests
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Canopy