Chestnut 2026 Economic Impact Report
October 1, 2026
Chestnut’s fourth planting year, covering the 2025–2026 planting season, marked a substantial expansion of its forest restoration activity across the Southern United States. Since Beacon Economics’ prior analysis in September 2025, the reported portfolio grew from 53 project sites across six states to 158 sites across nine states, surpassing 70,000 acres of plantable
land, nearly five times the land area of Manhattan. New activity in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee broadened the geographic reach of the company’s restoration efforts.
As Chestnut’s portfolio has expanded, so too has the economic activity supported by its investments. Economic output supported by its planting activity increased from approximately $9.5 million in Year 1 to $14.5 million in Year 2, $24.8 million in Year 3, and $30.7 million in Year 4. This represents a 24% increase in the company’s estimated economic output impact over the last planting year. Across Years 1–4, modeled activity supported approximately $79.6 million in cumulative economic output.