More than three dozen governments around the world have committed to restoring more than 150 million hectares of land by 2020. That’s an area bigger than South Africa. By 2030, that commitment rises to 350 million hectares.

Forests are losing a net 3.3 million hectares (an area the size of Taiwan) every year. Reversing these trends, according to an October report from Nature Conservancy and World Resources Institute, can deliver more than one-third of the emission reductions necessary to keep global warming under two degrees Celsius, the goal of the Paris climate accord.

Hundreds of businesses and investors are jumping on this opportunity, according to a new report from Nature Conservancy and World Resources Institute. A few examples:

  • Dutch firm Land Life Company, whose patented product enables trees to grow in dry and degraded land, are using technology to lower the costs and boost the efficiency of restoration.
  • Guayakí, which sells drinks made with restored Atlantic rainforest-grown yerba mate, are sourcing materials from restorative activities.
  • Fresh Coast Capital, which wonMorgan Stanley’s Sustainable Investing Challenge in 2014
  • Project managers like New Forests, which manages sustainable timber plantations and other conservation investments, are managing and harvesting trees on the degraded land.

Read the full article about investing in forests by Dennis Price at ImpactAlpha.