Beyond the Canopy

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 nowThis 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.

What does it really take to restore ecosystems at scale, beyond planting trees? In this episode of Beyond the Canopy, we sit down with Marie-Noëlle Keijzer, CEO of WeForest, to talk honestly about the realities of ecosystem restoration. From restoring more than 80,000 hectares to planting over 100 million trees, WeForest’s work reaches far beyond forests, it supports livelihoods, strengthens communities, and builds long-term resilience for people and nature alike. Together, we explore what works (and what doesn’t) in large-scale restoration, why community leadership is essential, and how science, transparency, and integrity are non-negotiable if we want restoration to deliver real, lasting impact. We also discuss the growing role of corporate partnerships and how to make sure they truly support ecosystems rather than just good intentions. Whether you’re working in conservation, sustainability, impact investing, or simply curious about how restoration really happens on the ground, this conversation offers grounded insights and hopeful perspectives. Hit subscribe, join the conversation, and let's grow a movement beyond the canopy.

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.

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.

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.