When it comes to clean technology, the mighty tree remains a top contender.
That’s why, while many firms are innovating machine-based and software-powered solutions, other entities are simply making it easier for the world to generate more forest. It’s a concept known as Nature-Based Solutions: actions that employ Mother Nature herself to address climate-related concerns.
One Canadian firm innovating nature-based solutions is veritree, which spun out of Vancouver-based sustainable apparel company tentree in 2022 after originally launching as an internal tool in 2019.
The officially stated mission of the homegrown startup-to-watch “is to make saving the planet simple by building trust through technology and making it easy for businesses to take real actions.”
Veritree’s suite utilizes LiDAR, drone, and blockchain technology to help measure progress of environmental projects and monitor outcomes.
The most recent advancements from veritree are aimed at addressing barriers to scaling mangrove restoration.
Mangroves are among Earth’s most important ecosystems, storing up to three times more carbon than inland tropical forests. Yet their dense canopy makes them difficult to monitor via satellite imagery.
A newly launched AI survivability solution analyzes field imagery of mangroves in the first three years of planting, the most critical time frame for survivability.
Alongside this tool, a peer-reviewed study co-authored by veritree, the University of Alberta, and the EarthLungs Reforestation Foundation introduces a model for highly accurate carbon biomass measurement.
Together, these tools—now built into the core veritree platform—form a crucial part of veritree’s science-backed monitoring protocol, combining drone surveys, field measurements, and mobile-enabled data collection.
“By uniting AI survivability classification with advanced carbon biomass measurement, we’re equipping restoration teams to overcome challenges that have held back mangrove recovery for decades,” explains Derrick Emsley, co-founder of veritree. “Our AI survivability model manages restoration with precision, and our mangrove carbon modelling tool tracks biodiversity, socio-economic benefits, and carbon impact in detail.”
“Our ability to collect, verify, and manage data is unique, and is the foundation for creating better outcomes for the future of mangrove restoration,” added Emsley, who serves his company as chief executive officer. “Better data builds better models, better models deliver better projects, and better projects provide verifiable proof that nature-based solutions can deliver measurable, lasting climate value.”
As pilots expand, veritree plans to continue validating the model across geographies around the world.
The launches follow a $9.1M Series A round earlier this year.
Veritree won the Innovation Start-Up Award at Davos in 2023 and was recognized by both the Foresight 50, an annual ranking of Canada’s most investible cleantech startups, and the 2025 BC Cleantech Awards.
The B.C. upstart has helped plant more than 100 million trees so far, with a goal of planting a billion by 2030.
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