Transforming Life
In many regions across the world, once-productive land for agriculture and coastal fishing have been destroyed, leading local communities into increased poverty and desperation as their ecosystem and livelihoods crumble.
At Era, our triple bottom line initiative is on mission to:
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Restore the Environment by restoring lands with devastated ecologies.
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Create Jobs by alleviating poverty through hiring marginalized people to reforest their lands and stimulate community-based businesses.
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Transform Lives by treating people with dignity, caring about their well being, and helping them thrive sustainably in their own ecosystems.
We are not a tree-focused reforestation company, we are a people-focused environmental restoration movement.
A Model that Transforms Life
Era's founders have a long history of implementing and managing community development and environmental restoration projects around the world. Many projects create great impact, but there is a pattern of lacking elements to make the project truly transformative. Era began with a mission to achieve what others deemed impossible. The dream was to create a model that:
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Addresses key contributors to deforestation
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Uses a science-based approach to implementation
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Has community-led and designed projects
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Fixes urgent community needs
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Creates long term results and lasting positive impact
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Implementsan exit strategy that did not rely on external funding for the community and ecosystem to thrive
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Monitors, verifies, and reports results thoroughly
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And is cost efficient and effective
Era came up with a plan and.... it works! Hundreds of people have been hired across multiple countries to restore their ecosystems, livelihoods are improving, communities have sustainable businesses, and the ecology of devastated lands is being rapidly transformed into thriving ecosystems!
Monitoring, Reporting, Verification
Our MRV process tells the story of socio-environmental change.
We monitor:
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trees planted
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hectares under restoration
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people employed
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Community businesses started
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Baseline data sets the stage to show change over time.
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Geotagged before and after photos are taken regularly to show environmental impact.
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Community members share their stories of how the project impacts them.
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3 step verification process.
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MRV information is shared frequently with site sponsors through reports, published content, and live photo albums.
The report is great and I can tell it is continually getting better and better! I will say confidently its the best report out there by far. So many great impactful stories, so much detail to what's going on in the photos, the videos, the amount of photos, the live tracking - really coming together nicely. Great work on that. It's wonderful to see our impact come to life. I'm sure that fulfills your other partners as well.
Matt Kallstrom, Founder and CEO of The Global Improvement Group
Beyond Forests
In addition, Era undertakes various other initiatives that benefit both communities and the environment.
Environmental Engineering
Sometimes environmental restoration requires a major change such as removing large sediment deposits that are blocking vital water channels. If you are interested in supporting this type of work connect with us.
Micro-enterprise
You can donate towards the development of micro-enterprises that will help lift families out of the poverty cycle. Connect with us to learn how you can help a family launch a sustainable small business.
If you are interested in getting involved, please connect with our team.
Sustainable Agriculture
Era builds community cooperatives that create larger scale sustainable businesses that can support a community. Era works with investors and donors to create socio-economic change for a region.
Meet the Leaders
Era is a family-led organization. It has been a dream of the founders to build a transformational organization that can create long-term change for people and our planet.
Dr. Geoff Hahn
International Director
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Founded multiple social enterprises and nonprofits
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20 years of executive experience with large international development organizations
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Oversaw and assisted development of 100+ community-focused endeavors in over 70 nations
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Earned a doctorate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership with a dissertation on Cross-Cultural Partnerships
Luis Diego
Guatemala Director and International Training Lead
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Serial entrepreneur
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Founder of high quality schools, agencies, leadership programs, and conservation nonprofits
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Holds high rapport across all levels of society in Guatemala
Rachhya Kayastha
Nepal Director & International Monitoring Lead
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Has led restoration efforts to plant over 30 million trees!
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Masters in Environmental and Natural Recourses Studies.
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Experience in solid waste management and water treatment.
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Experience in wildlife monitoring and habitat improvement.
Fabiola Bethancourth
Monitoring Lead
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Leads monitoring of reforestation initiatives and socioeconomic change
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Specialized in social work for rural communities
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Leads community event days to do environmental eduaction
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Read Fabilola's words on her experience with Era
Gregory Hahn
CEO
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Developed reforestation and carbon projects in several nations with Eden Reforestation Projects and Compassionate Carbon
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Founded multiple purpose-driven companies
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Holds strong rapport within a global network of community transformation organizations
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Scaled multiple international social enterprises
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Earned degree in Social Entrepreneurship
Sara Montenegro
Guatemala COO
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Director of Los Altos Educational Center in Guatemala
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Holds multiple certificates in administration and finances
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Degree in Education
Gabriel Andrés
CTO
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Engineer and published researcher with expertise in operational automation
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Managed various technical operations and developed applications to monitor and reduce emissions for Fortune 500 and Fortune 10 companies
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Well versed in technical environmental regulation protocols and calculations
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Leonel Canul
Mexico Director
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Leads Mexico mangrove and terrestrial reforestation projects
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Community leader, fluent in Maya
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Non-profit leader in the Yucatan Peninsula
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Manages finances and legal needs for multiple NGOs and community initiatives in Southern Mexico
FAQs
How much does it cost to plant a tree?
Each project is priced separately. We don't publicize the exact amount per tree because our largest partners are organizations who help sponsor these projects and they price the projects differently than us. If you reach out to us we will give you the exact price per tree per project. On average every $1 USD plants 4 trees!
How soon will the trees be planted?
We do our best to plant the trees as quickly as possible from the time of your order. Our contracts state an 18 month timeline from when a tree order is made incase it is dry season, there is a drought, or another factor that makes waiting the best plan for long-term impact.
Can I sponsor the community-development aspect and not the reforestation initiatives?
Yes! Tree planting isn't for everyone. We are starting up a sister-organization based on supporting sustainable community led businesses. Please contact us about this if you are interested.
Do you offer carbon credits?
Restoration Era does not, but we there is a carbon project developer we highly recommend with a great people first approach. Contact us below and we will connect you with them.
Are you a nonprofit?
Restoration Era is set up as an LLC in Colorado, USA. Our partners are from several states and countries. Through the support of legal and financial expertise we determined that at this stage more funding can go directly to projects through a fiscal sponsorship model. You can make a US tax-deductible donation to Restoration Era through our fiscal sponsor partner the New Horizons Foundation. More details can be found on the Support a Project page. This model has been reviewed and approved by highly respected organizations such as 1% for the Planet.
Can I support multiple projects?
Of course! We love your energy for creating lasting change. Go crazy, pick as many sites as you want!
Let’s create a lasting impact together!
Get in touch to learn how we can work together.