TotalEnergies Expands Sustainable Forestry Investments in U.S. to Preserve Carbon Sinks
TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) has entered into a significant agreement with NativState, a forest carbon project developer based in Arkansas, to support the conservation of U.S. forests and promote sustainable land management practices. This strategic investment is aimed at protecting large tracts of forest land in the southern United States from land-use conversion and aggressive timber harvesting, while also bolstering the company’s commitment to natural carbon sinks as part of its broader climate strategy.
Partnership Overview
The collaboration involves 13 Improved Forest Management (IFM) projects spanning 100,000 hectares (approximately 247,000 acres) across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. These lands are collectively owned by over 280 private family forest landowners, who now have a viable alternative to conventional, intensive timber harvesting practices.
Through the implementation of this program, TotalEnergies will acquire all of the carbon credits generated by these projects. The program is designed and managed by NativState and certified through the American Carbon Registry (ACR)—a globally respected standard for carbon credit validation and verification.
Environmental Goals and Carbon Strategy
This investment aligns with TotalEnergies’ strategy to achieve net-zero emissions across its global operations. While the company prioritizes emissions avoidance and reduction, it recognizes the importance of carbon sinks in mitigating residual emissions. The carbon credits from the IFM projects will be used starting in 2030 to voluntarily offset a portion of its remaining Scope 1 and Scope 2 direct emissions—those resulting from its own operations and purchased energy.
By preserving and improving forest conditions across this vast acreage, the initiative will actively enhance carbon storage in biomass and soil, prevent deforestation-related emissions, and contribute to long-term carbon sequestration.
Key Conservation and Sustainability Measures
The agreement outlines several specific conservation and land stewardship goals, including:
- Preservation of high conservation value forests, ensuring that critical ecosystems remain intact.
- Implementation of best management practices along streamside management zones to protect water quality and aquatic habitats.
- Enhancement of biodiversity by encouraging forest species diversity and resisting monoculture trends.
- Protection of wildlife corridors, helping maintain natural migration paths and breeding grounds for native species.
- Sustainable forest regeneration, which ensures long-term ecological resilience and productivity.
These practices collectively aim to restore and maintain healthy forest ecosystems, improve the carbon storage potential of the landscape, and support biodiversity conservation.
Support for Small Landowners
Beyond environmental goals, the program also brings tangible social and economic benefits to participating forest landowners, many of whom are small, private landholders. These benefits include:
- Forestry education and technical assistance, equipping landowners with the knowledge to manage their forests sustainably.
- Access to voluntary carbon markets, providing a new stream of income tied to conservation rather than resource extraction.
- Long-term financial incentives, allowing families to maintain ownership of their land and invest in its future productivity.
This initiative represents a shift in the economic model for forest ownership in the U.S. South, offering landowners a meaningful way to preserve natural assets while securing economic stability.
Statements from Leadership
Adrien Henry, Vice President of Nature-Based Solutions at TotalEnergies, highlighted the company’s mission in supporting both climate and community goals:
“TotalEnergies confirms its commitment to support the conservation and enhancement of carbon sinks, with local value creation. We are thrilled to support NativState to scale up their operations, directly benefiting the environment and their local communities.”
Stuart Allen, Founder and CEO of NativState, emphasized the significance of the partnership for small landowners in the region:
“We, at NativState, are honored and deeply grateful for our partnership with TotalEnergies and our forest landowner families, which creates extraordinary opportunities to build a lasting legacy for small forest landowners in our communities across the southern United States. It is a privilege to empower these landowners to embrace sustainable forestry practices, cultivating healthier lands and stronger communities for generations to come.”
Advancing TotalEnergies’ Climate Commitments
This agreement forms a key part of TotalEnergies’ broader climate and sustainability strategy, which integrates nature-based solutions alongside technological innovations and emissions reductions. By investing in certified carbon credits from forest conservation efforts, the company reinforces its climate commitments while supporting biodiversity and community resilience.
As part of its multi-pronged approach to achieving net zero by 2050, TotalEnergies has been gradually increasing its portfolio of nature-based initiatives worldwide. These projects complement ongoing efforts in energy transition, such as renewable energy investments, carbon capture and storage, and digital efficiency technologies across its operations.
