Apple invests in California Redwood Forest to advance 2030 carbon neutral goal

Apple is putting money into the ground quite literally with its latest investment in California’s redwood forests. Partnering with The Conservation Fund, the company is supporting the restoration and long-term sustainable management of the Gualala River Forest in Mendocino County. The move is part of Apple’s broader Restore Fund program, which now spans conservation and regenerative agriculture projects across six continents.

The idea is straightforward: forests are one of the most effective ways to capture carbon, and Apple is betting on them to help meet its ambitious 2030 carbon-neutral goal. Since 2021, the Restore Fund has grown from its original tie-up with Goldman Sachs and Conservation International to include Climate Asset Management and direct investments by Apple in the U.S. and Latin America. Suppliers like TSMC and Murata have also joined in.

So far, Apple says it has cut more than 60% of its emissions since 2015. The company is targeting a 75% reduction by the end of the decade, with the remainder to be balanced through high-quality carbon removal projects. By 2030, Apple and its partners are aiming to remove nearly 10 million metric tons of carbon annually.

The California redwood initiative highlights another piece of the puzzle. Working forests like the Gualala River Forest don’t just store carbon they support wildlife and provide jobs for local communities. The Conservation Fund, which has been protecting forestland in the region for two decades, calls the partnership with Apple a model for preserving ecosystems under pressure.

This isn’t Apple’s first U.S. forest effort. The company has already worked with The Conservation Fund to protect forests in Maine and North Carolina, and it’s backing a temperate rainforest in Washington state.

Beyond the U.S., Apple is extending support to conservation projects around the world. Through new grants, the company is funding mangrove protection in India with Conservation International, backing the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots and Shoots program, and working with The Nature Conservancy on tools to better monitor natural climate solutions.Taken together, these moves reflect Apple’s approach of coupling carbon goals with biodiversity and community benefits. The real test will be scale whether these nature-based projects can deliver enough impact to make a dent in global emissions while ensuring forests and ecosystems thrive for decades to come.