Seatrees, a leading non-profit dedicated to protecting and restoring ocean ecosystems, today announces the launch of Seatrees+, a premium class of marine ecosystem restoration projects designed to set a new standard in marine conservation through rigorous science, deep community partnerships, and long-term environmental protection.
Since 2019, Seatrees has planted over 4 million trees, by restoring mangrove forests, kelp forests, coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and coastal watersheds around the world. The standard Seatrees restoration project works by supporting local NGO project partners to restore their local marine ecosystems, and while it has been very successful, it can also be improved to meet exponentially increasing threats to ecosystems and climate.
The introduction of Seatrees+ dramatically increases the positive impact of standard Seatrees projects by using better science, technology and the indigenous wisdom of local communities. Donors to Seatrees+ projects can be assured that their money supports the most innovative technology, practices, and communities for repairing our ocean planet.
The new program will have three distinct project offerings — Seatrees+Biodiversity, Seatrees+Climate, and Seatrees+Science.
Seatrees+Biodiversity projects represent the most advanced ecosystem restoration efforts. The positive impacts of these projects are measured and delivered by Seatrees as Biodiversity Blocks — the world’s leading marine biodiversity credit. Multiple UN agencies have recognized biodiversity credits as an important conservation tool to address the global biodiversity crisis. Biodiversity credits utilize a rigorous science-based approach to quantify ecological benefits and can provide financial support for ecosystems not supported by carbon markets, such as coral reefs.
Seatrees+Biodiversity projects utilize a biodiversity credit methodology that rewards stewardship actions to restore ecosystems. This system improves on existing philanthropic models for conservation funding because of the strong scientific approach and flexibility to launch new projects rapidly, while delivering world-class monitoring and impact reporting.
The first Biodiversity Blocks available for purchase are Mangrove+ Blocks. Each Block plants one mangrove tree in Kenya and employs the local community over 10 years to maintain the forest and monitor impacts across a suite of ecological and social benefits. Buyers of Mangrove+ Blocks will receive 10 years of impact reports.
Kelp+ and Coral+ projects are planned for release later in 2025.
All Blocks are issued and tracked on blockchain on the Regen Network registry, ensuring transparency, traceability, and long-term accountability. Seatrees maintains its publicly reviewed science-based methodology for marine restoration on the Regen Network.
Seatrees+Climate combines Biodiversity Blocks and standard carbon credits to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves, seagrasses, and kelp forests. These habitats are essential for sequestering carbon, safeguarding shorelines, and supporting marine biodiversity. Seatrees+Climate will allow donors to support climate change restoration efforts as well as broader ecological resilience.
Seatrees+Science supports leading marine science laboratories to conduct innovative research that is directly relevant to scaling up marine ecosystem restoration. For example, the Kelp Carbon Science project studies how giant kelp forests sequester CO2 with the goal of eventually being able to fund kelp forest restoration through carbon markets. Donors who support Seatrees+Science projects help build the scientific knowledge base needed for marine conservation breakthroughs of the future.
“The introduction of Seatrees+ gives donors the ability to engage with meaningful environmental restoration projects on a significantly higher level,” said Kevin Whilden, Seatrees Co-Founder and Director. “These new programs have the potential to scale solutions rapidly while increasing the quality of monitoring and reporting to donors.”
Seatrees remains committed as an organization to developing standard Seatrees restoration projects that focus on high-quality, accessible and cost-effective restoration efforts. Seatrees+ projects simply build on that strong foundation – while adding additional scientific rigor, longer-term protection, and stronger local partnerships. This new approach delivers deeper environmental and community benefits, supported by continuous data collection and assessment.
Seatrees+ has been designed to align with global biodiversity and sustainability targets, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, to offer an effective and credible way for donors to contribute to global conservation efforts.
To learn more about Seatrees+ and get involved today, please visit seatrees.org and subscribe on YouTube to stay up to date on the latest films.
About Seatrees
Seatrees is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that restores and protects coastal ecosystems around the world to reverse climate change, restore biodiversity, and support local communities. Seatrees uses a science- based approach to regenerate coral reefs, kelp forests, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, shellfish reefs and coastal watersheds. Seatrees projects support local community restoration efforts and provide tangible ways for individuals and brands to create a more resilient planet for future generations. To learn more about Seatrees, visit seatrees.org.
