Employee Spotlight: Alex Butler
July 13, 2026
Chestnut is comprised of a dedicated team with 75+ years of combined experience across fields including forestry, energy, land acquisition, and data science. We’ve developed and supported over 50 carbon projects across both compliance and voluntary carbon registries—bringing unrivaled rigor, transparency, and long-term thinking to nature‑based carbon solutions.
Our mission is to lead by example, acting with integrity and striving to be the preeminent nature-based carbon project developer, delivering the highest quality products to the market.
We’re spotlighting members of our team so you can learn how we do it.
Alex Butler
Director, Land Acquisition
Land team
Based in Smyrna, Georgia
Alex brings extensive experience in forestry, land management, and timberland acquisitions to the Chestnut team. With a career spanning forestry operations, asset management, portfolio analysis, and real estate transactions, Alex plays a critical role in identifying and acquiring the land that serves as the foundation for Chestnut’s afforestation projects.
At Chestnut, restoring forests starts long before the first seedling is planted. It begins by finding the right land, building trusted relationships with local stakeholders, and ensuring every property aligns with our long-term environmental and financial goals. That responsibility is at the center of Alex’s work.
A Career Rooted in Forest and Land Stewardship
Alex’s path to Chestnut began with a strong academic foundation in natural resources. He holds undergraduate degrees in both Forestry and Wildlife, as well as a master’s degree in Forestry, from the University of Georgia. This education gave him a deep understanding of forest ecosystems, timber management, and land stewardship, while also building skills in financial modeling, property management, and contract negotiation.
As his career progressed, Alex moved into timberland investment and asset management, spending nearly a decade at Bank of America and Cushman & Wakefield. There, he helped oversee approximately 60,000 acres across the southeastern United States, working at the intersection of forestry, real estate, and finance. From evaluating acquisitions and conducting timber sales to managing hunting leases and property operations, he developed a comprehensive understanding of what makes land both productive and sustainable over the long term.
Alex’s rare blend of forestry expertise, operational experience, and financial acumen allows him to evaluate land through multiple lenses—skills that are essential to building Chestnut’s growing portfolio of afforestation projects.
Building the Foundation for New Forests
As Chestnut’s Director of Land Acquisitions, Alex is responsible for identifying and purchasing marginal or unproductive farmland and pastureland that is ripe for transformation into thriving forests. His work requires balancing ecological potential, financial performance, and operational feasibility.
But acquiring land involves much more than evaluating properties. Alex regularly works with sellers, brokers, tenants, surveyors, attorneys, and community stakeholders to guide transactions from start to finish. Internally, he collaborates closely with Chestnut’s Natural Resources team and leads regional land managers responsible for the day-to-day management of a 90,000-acre portfolio spanning nine states.
On any given day, Alex might be:
- Speaking with brokers and landowners about acquisition opportunities
- Evaluating properties through financial modeling and market analysis
- Reviewing and negotiating contracts
- Supporting land management decisions regarding hunting leases, repairs and maintenance, and community engagement
Transforming Working Lands into Lasting Ecosystems
Through his work, Alex helps convert former agricultural lands into native, biodiverse forests that will provide environmental benefits for decades to come. These projects support carbon removal while restoring landscapes that were historically forested before being cleared for agricultural use.
“Often farmland is no longer working for either a seller or tenant’s long-term goals. Seeing that land transformed into a growing forest is incredibly rewarding,” Alex says. “We’re restoring soil quality, natural ecosystems, water quality, and wildlife habitat from Texas to the Eastern seaboard. The impacts are exponential.”
Land acquisitions also create value for local communities by supporting landowners, creating opportunities for contractors and local vendors, and helping agricultural operators transition toward land uses that better meet their long-term goals.
Integrity in Every Transaction
Land acquisition depends on trust. Whether working with sellers, tenants, brokers, or community members, Alex believes transparency and fairness are essential to achieving positive outcomes.
“I always negotiate fairly with sellers and brokers”,” he says. “I act with honesty and clarity as I know there are potentially tenants or others who have uses for the land we are buying.”
That commitment extends to how Chestnut engages with communities. The team works to minimize disruption, maintain recreational opportunities where possible, support smooth agricultural transitions, and actively gather feedback from stakeholders to ensure the changes are positive.
Buying land directly supports the local landowners and provides jobs for local vendors both on the acquisition and management fronts. Chestnut often sees tenants concentrate operations on better land or sellers using proceeds to do a 1031 exchange into more favorable land for their needs.
For Alex, successful projects are built on a foundation of both strong land selection and strong relationships.
Creating a Legacy That Lasts
What excites Alex most about Chestnut’s work is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on both the landscape and the communities connected to it. Seeing degraded land take root as healthy, thriving forests offers a powerful reminder of the progress made since he joined the company four years ago.
That long-term vision was what first drew him to Chestnut.
“In 2022, the idea of building an afforestation land portfolio for a carbon project was a novel idea,” Alex says. “It provided a lot of unique opportunities to learn and grow professionally.”
Today, one of the most enjoyable parts of his role involves the team around him.
“The people,” he says. “I work with great people across the company. I learn from others and am exposed to many different perspectives and ideas.”
That spirit of collaboration is reflected in Alex’s work every day. By bringing together forestry expertise, financial discipline, and a thoughtful approach to land acquisition, he helps turn opportunity into impact. From identifying the right properties to building trusted relationships with local stakeholders, Alex is shaping the landscapes that make Chestnut’s mission possible.