ECO2 Forests focuses on carbon, reforestation (Sacramento)

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An international forestry startup that aims to sell both lumber and carbon credits began establishing its first tree plantation in the United States this week, in the high desert between Reno and Susanville off Highway 395.

Sacramento-based ECO2 Forests Inc. specializes in reforestation and carbon sequestration projects. It intends to create large-scale tree plantations on deforested and previously barren land using a fast-growing tree native to eastern Asia.

Known as the kiri tree in Japan or more commonly known as paulownia, the tree can regrow from a stump, making it ideal for sustainable forest projects, said Collie Christensen, chief executive officer of ECO2 Forests.

The company intends to plant up to 3 million trees on 14,000 acres in Washoe County, Nevada, and part of California over the next five to seven years. It started the first phase of the project Monday: planting 450,000 trees on 2,000 acres.

ECO2 Forests has leased water rights on the property for 50 years from the landowner, the Jaksick family, Christensen said, adding that water flows to the property from natural springs.

Founded less than a year ago in Queensland, Australia, ECO2 Forests established its corporate headquarters in Sacramento in September. Five of ECO2 Forests’ 18 employees work in its 6,500-square-foot Tech Center Drive facility.

ECO2 Forests estimates it will generate 300 jobs over the next year, though few would be in Sacramento.

Read the full story in the Sacramento Business Journal.