Seattle-based Mast Reforestation has secured $25 million in fresh funding while expanding its environmental initiatives to include an innovative carbon capture technique called “wood vaulting.” This new approach involves burying trees damaged by wildfires underground in conditions that prevent decomposition, effectively storing their carbon content long-term.
The company plans to generate revenue through carbon credits from both their tree planting efforts and this new wood vaulting process. The buried trees not only lock away carbon but also clear space for new growth while reducing potential fuel for future wildfires, according to CEO Grant Canary.
The organization has evolved significantly since its inception nearly ten years ago when it began as a drone-focused reforestation company. Today, Mast Reforestation employs a comprehensive approach to forest management, incorporating technologies throughout the entire process from seed collection to mature tree carbon capture.
Their methodology begins with drone-based forest surveys and pine cone collection for seed harvesting. Some seeds are cultivated into seedlings using specially designed pucks that enhance survival rates. The company utilizes satellite imagery to optimize planting locations, with most trees being planted manually. Ongoing monitoring ensures seedling survival and verifies carbon sequestration.
Originally launched as DroneSeed, the company rebranded in 2023 to Mast Reforestation, drawing inspiration from the forestry term “mast years” – rare periods of abundant cone production in trees.
Recognizing seed supply challenges, Mast has strategically acquired three major seed companies: Silvaseed, the largest private seed supplier west of Colorado; Cal Forest Nurseries, a primary
California-based supplier; and Siskiyou Seed in Oregon. These acquisitions have positioned Mast as the Western United States’ leading seed supplier.
The company has implemented technological improvements across these traditional seed businesses while developing innovative funding mechanisms for wildfire-affected landowners. Through a partnership with One Tree Planted, Mast facilitates carbon credit sales for reforestation projects. The company is now working to verify carbon removal through their wood vaulting initiative to create additional carbon credit opportunities.
The latest funding round was jointly led by new investor Pulse Fund and returning investor Social Capital. Additional participants included Elemental Impact, Spero Ventures (with Tesla co-founder Marc Tarpenning joining as board observer), Thistledown Capital, and former FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. Previous investors also participated, including Seven Seven Six, Gaingels, Climate Avengers, Climate Capital, Drone.vc, Asymmetry Ventures, and Massive Capital Partners.
These recent developments represent a significant expansion of Mast’s original mission. By combining traditional forestry practices with modern technology and innovative carbon capture techniques, the company has created a comprehensive approach to forest restoration and carbon sequestration. Their work addresses multiple environmental challenges simultaneously: reforesting burned areas, reducing future fire risks, and creating new mechanisms for carbon storage.
The company’s evolution from a drone-based planting operation to the West’s largest seed supplier and carbon capture innovator demonstrates the complex nature of forest restoration. Through technological integration and strategic acquisitions, Mast has positioned itself as a leader in modern forestry practices, while developing new revenue streams through carbon markets to support ongoing restoration efforts.