Netflix has signed a landmark carbon credit deal that’s already transforming farmland into forests in Georgia, putting millions into local landowners’ pockets and millions of trees into the ground.
Streaming Money, Growing Forests
The streaming giant is doing more than just producing shows these days. Netflix has struck a 15-year partnership with the American Forest Foundation (AFF), channeling money into a program called Fields and Forests. The idea is simple on paper: companies like Netflix buy carbon credits, AFF uses that money to pay small landowners, and new forests get planted across the South.
Nicole Goodman, AFF’s communications director, said the partnership is already taking shape. The first 6,000 acres of land are being repurposed. Out of that, 2,500 acres are enrolled, 1.4 million trees are lined up for planting, and $2 million in payments have been promised to landowners.
For Georgia families like that of Alisha Logue, the project hits close to home. “This land is my only connection to my grandma, and I want it to provide for my daughter as she grows up,” Logue said. “Fields and Forests has given me a way to protect and ensure my family’s legacy.”
How Carbon Credits Actually Work
The term gets tossed around a lot, but what’s a carbon credit in plain English? According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, each credit represents one metric ton of carbon dioxide either kept out of the air or removed from it.
In this project, trees are the workhorses. They pull carbon from the atmosphere and store it. Companies like Netflix buy credits to counterbalance some of the pollution tied to their business. In effect, they’re paying someone else to clean up the air.
Here’s a quick breakdown for clarity:
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1 carbon credit = 1 metric ton of CO₂ reduced or absorbed
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Credits fund: land prep, tree planting, direct payments to landowners
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Netflix’s role: early financing through milestone prepayments
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Impact so far: 2,500 acres enrolled, 1.4 million trees planned, $2 million committed
It’s not charity, though. Netflix and other corporations use credits to meet their own sustainability pledges. The EPA describes it as “offsetting”—companies balance their emissions ledger by backing outside projects.
A Boost for Rural Families
For many Southern landowners, getting into the carbon market has been out of reach. The upfront costs are high, the paperwork confusing, and programs often target large tracts of land. Fields and Forests flips that script.
The project is structured for small-acreage families. Landowners with as little as 30 acres of open fields in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, or South Carolina can qualify, so long as the ground hasn’t been forested in at least 10 years. In return, they sign a 30-year agreement and get steady payments.
Some see it as a financial lifeline. Others view it as a way to keep family land intact for future generations. And for rural communities that have struggled with declining farm income, the promise of trees bringing both money and stability is significant.
The Numbers Behind the Trees
The scope of Fields and Forests goes beyond a few thousand acres. AFF has laid out a roadmap that stretches years ahead:
| Year | Acres Enrolled | Estimated Credits Generated | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,500 | 160,000 | Early-stage launch, milestone financing |
| 2028 | 25,000 | 1.6 million | Expansion across four states |
| 2032 | 75,000 | 4.8 million | Target milestone, broader enrollment |
These credits don’t just reduce Netflix’s carbon footprint. They also open a door for local families to share in long-term income streams. For every acre planted, landowners can count on new checks rolling in as the forest grows.
Why Netflix? Why Now?
Companies are under pressure. Viewers may not think twice about the environmental toll of streaming a movie, but it adds up. Data centers, office buildings, productions — all of it carries emissions. Buying credits doesn’t erase that footprint, but it signals intent.
John Ringer, senior director of project finance at AFF, praised Netflix’s move. “With the right investment and science, natural climate solutions can be both a powerful and credible tool to address our most pressing conservation challenges,” he said. “We’re grateful for Netflix’s leadership, and we invite other companies to follow their lead.”
Netflix is positioning itself as an early mover. Its financing came in the form of milestone prepayments, meaning money goes out as the project hits targets. That’s helped push Fields and Forests off the drawing board and into the dirt.
Looking Ahead
By 2032, the goal is 75,000 acres planted across the Southeast. If that happens, an estimated 4.8 million carbon credits will be generated. Longer term, AFF hopes to scale even further, drawing in new states and more small farmers.
For families like the Logues, that means more trees on the land, a steadier income, and the comfort of knowing their roots are being protected. For Netflix, it’s a way to say they’re doing something about climate change, while also writing checks that ripple through rural America.
The question now is whether other corporations will jump in. Netflix might be the first big streamer in this space, but AFF is betting it won’t be the last.
