Restoring Land, Together.

What We Do

We design, finance, and implement large-scale reforestation projects across the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley—once home to 24 million acres of bottomland hardwood forest, now reduced by more than 75%.

In partnership with Ducks Unlimited and backed by perpetual conservation easements under Wetlands America Trust, Flyway Forests is designed to meet the highest market standards, and deliver measurable climate and ecological benefits.

Reforestation Design & Implementation

Partnering with landowners we plan, design, and implement diverse native diverse species planting across marginal agricultural land. Landowners may select parcels within their property for restoration and retain other areas for continued use..

Landowner payment

Flyway Forests leases land on a fixed payment structure. This design guarantees landowners income while insulating them from commodity market fluctuations.

Easement Facilitation

We aid landowners in enrolling their lands into a permanent conservation easement with Ducks Unlimited subsidiary, Wetlands America Trust (WAT).

Corporate Partnerships

By partnering with organizations to achieve their measurable, high-integrity sustainability goals, Flyway Forests expands impact beyond the local community.

Building On A Legacy of Conservation

Flyway’s partner, Ducks Unlimited, brings an 87-year legacy of wetlands and forest conservation across North America.

Ducks Unlimited has restored more than 300,000 acres in collaboration with partners such as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, expanding landmark refuges like the Cache River and Tensas River National Wildlife Refuges.

With over 600 perpetual conservation easements and 16 million acres protected across North America, Ducks Unlimited ranks among the nation’s five largest accredited land trusts. Backed by $65 million in trust assets and a proven, on-the-ground implementation network, Ducks Unlimited delivers lasting conservation outcomes with unmatched scale, accountability, and impact.

We are targeting

30,000

acres conserved

4.5M

tons carbon sequestered

200

species identified

Land Steward Benefits

Through the Flyway Forests Reforestation Program, landowners gain a practical and rewarding path to conservation.

‍Biodiversity: Restores vital habitat along the Mississippi Flyway for migratory waterfowl and native wildlife.

Soil & Water Quality: Revitalizes degraded soils and filters agricultural runoff, improving regional water health.

Recreation & Legacy: Creates opportunities for improved hunting and outdoor recreation while preserving family heritage.

Our Project

The Flyway Forests Reforestation Project restores native bottomland hardwood forests and wetlands throughout the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. By converting marginal farmland into natural habitat, the project strengthens soil health, improves water quality, and increases flood resilience while creating essential refuge for migratory birds and wildlife.

Flyway Forest Program

Location

Jackson, Mississippi

Date

2022

The Future of Market Quality

Flyway Forests sets a new benchmark for integrity and transparency in nature-based carbon projects.

Dynamic Benchmarking

Each project’s performance is compared against regional natural regeneration baselines to prevent over-crediting. Our pixel-level analytics ensure transparent, data-driven results.

Leakage Accounting

Proprietary spatial and yield models track both market- and activity-based leakage, maintaining credit accuracy and permanence.

Benefit Sharing

Landowners receive competitive, long-term payments that keep working lands productive and locally owned—strengthening rural economies while protecting landscapes.

Ecological Design

Restoration aligns with Ducks Unlimited’s habitat goals and supports species of concern such as the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and Louisiana Black Bear.

Meet Our Team

Elijah Umek

Carbon Development Manager

Flyway Forests

Nathalia Safar, PhD

Forest Scientist, Carbon Quantification

Ducks Unlimited

Lauren Alleman

National Carbon Program Lead, DU

Ducks Unlimited

Madie McFarland

Regional Biologist, DU

Ducks Unlimited

Brenden Simpson

Forester, DU

Ducks Unlimited

Johnathan Panter

Project Coordinator, DU

Ducks Unlimited

Latest Insights

Rebirth of the Bottomlands

Growing demand for carbon credits is boosting efforts to restore the South’s majestic hardwood forests

Read more

Restoring over 3,000 acres in Mississippi

A new project is part of a larger effort to restore and protect 2 million acres of forest in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley over the next two decades.

Read more