Employee Spotlight: Jacob Manuel
October 14, 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.
Jacob Manuel
Rural Land Manager
Land team
Based in Lafayette, Louisiana
Building a Career Rooted in the Outdoors
Before joining Chestnut, Jacob Manuel worked as a forestry intern at a 1,200-acre private tree farm. His background in forestry, wildlife ecology, customer service, and community engagement laid the foundation for the work he does today.
Drawn to the opportunity to spend time in the field and help restore ecosystems, Jacob saw Chestnut as a place where he could combine his passion for forestry with meaningful impact. He’s able to apply many specialized skills from forestry and wildlife ecology to customer service and community engagement.
“The work seemed dynamic and gave me the opportunity to be in the field often. I also wanted to take part in creating these ecosystems.”
As a Rural Land Manager, Jacob helps oversee everything that happens on Chestnut’s properties, from the early stages of acquisition through long-term stewardship. His responsibilities include site assessments, audits, contractor management, hunting leases, property taxes, and ongoing monitoring of project success.
No two days look the same. One day might be spent in the office coordinating projects and answering calls, while the next is spent entirely in the field. Through it all, Jacob and the Land Team help ensure Chestnut’s forests remain healthy and resilient for generations to come.
Supporting Wildlife, Biodiversity, and Communities
One of the most rewarding parts of Jacob’s role is seeing the impact Chestnut’s projects have on wildlife habitat. By restoring large, connected forest landscapes, Chestnut helps reduce habitat fragmentation and creates healthier environments for wildlife to move, feed, breed, and shelter naturally, supporting healthier and more abundant populations. Another crucial factor is hydrology. Not only are we supporting the natural hydrologic conditions but we are providing shade and filtration to many riparian and stream side zones which is extremely beneficial to amphibians and fishes.
A bobcat sighted on Chestnut’s property in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. Their presence suggests a landscape with enough cover and prey to support wildlife at the top of the food chain.
Beyond biodiversity benefits, Jacob sees firsthand how this work supports local communities. The team partners with schools and youth organizations like 4-H clubs, hosts field trips and research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate research, works with local contractors, and leases land back to community members for recreation.
Teaching local 4th–8th grade students how wildlife utilizes the tree species Chestnut plants at Evangeline Parish 4‑H Fish and Wildlife Day.
A Lasting Impact for Future Generations
One of Jacob’s favorite memories at Chestnut comes from visiting neighbors near a project site in Ville Platte, Louisiana, where both of his parents grew up. He was deeply aware of the culture that still thrives there of living off the land, and with the land. Creating ecosystems in that area instead of development means a lot to the people in the community and will help preserve the culture and traditions tied to the land.
“Creating ecosystems in that area instead of development means a lot to the people in that community and will help preserve a way of life that has existed there for generations.”
For Jacob, Chestnut’s work is about creating lasting environmental and community benefits that will endure well beyond his career. When asked what excites him most about Chestnut’s long-term impact, Jacob’s answer is simple: creating a better world for future generations.