- Manulife is the first corporate partner to implement veritree’s Smart Forest technology in sites across the globe
- veritree’s technology will be brought to Asia for the first time in Manulife Impact Forest sites in Japan and the Philippines
- To date, Manulife Impact Forests have restored 160 hectares of land—an area roughly equivalent to 8,161 tennis courts
Manulife has unveiled Manulife Impact Forests, a global network of nature restoration sites aimed at strengthening biodiversity, empowering local communities, and building climate resilience across key markets worldwide.
Developed in collaboration with community planting partners and Veritree—the platform behind verified nature restoration—Impact Forests represents a significant expansion of Manulife’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The initiative aligns ecological restoration with measurable social and climate outcomes, reinforcing the company’s belief that thriving ecosystems support thriving communities.
First to Deploy Smart Forest Technology
Manulife becomes the first corporate partner to implement Veritree’s Smart Forest technology in its reforestation efforts. The partnership also marks the technology’s debut in Asia, with initial deployments at Manulife Impact Forest sites in Japan and the Philippines.
Veritree’s Smart Forest Design integrates satellite imagery, ground-level field data, and bioacoustic monitoring to guide sustainable forest management. This data-driven approach ensures precise mapping of planting areas and careful selection of native species to foster resilient, long-term forest ecosystems. Through Veritree’s platform, each Impact Forest site benefits from real-time monitoring and full transparency throughout the restoration lifecycle.
Manulife Impact Forests currently span Canada, the United States, Cambodia, Japan, and the Philippines. To date, more than 160 hectares of land—roughly equivalent to 8,161 tennis courts—have been restored, with over 185,000 trees planted worldwide.
“Manulife is proud to launch the Manulife Impact Forests and to collaborate with Veritree in deploying their groundbreaking Smart Forest Design technology globally,” said Ariel Kangasniemi, Global Chief Sustainability Officer at Manulife. “As a company committed to helping people live better, for longer, we recognize that when nature thrives, people thrive. This partnership demonstrates how innovation, accountability, and environmental stewardship can work together to deliver meaningful impact.”
Measurable Impact, Real-Time Transparency
Data from restoration sites will be integrated into Manulife’s Veritree Impact Platform, enabling continuous, real-time tracking of environmental and social outcomes. Each tree planted is linked to quantifiable metrics, including:
- Tonnes of carbon sequestered
- Hectares restored
- Biodiversity improvements
- Community benefits such as job creation and education opportunities
“This is what scalable, verifiable restoration looks like,” said Derrick Emsley, CEO and Co-Founder of Veritree. “Nature-based solutions must be built on trust. Through our partnership with Manulife, we’re demonstrating that restoration can be both high-integrity and technology-driven—connecting trees planted to real data, real communities, and measurable results.”
Strengthening Restoration Efforts in the Philippines
In the Philippines, Manulife continues its longstanding partnership with the Haribon Foundation, advancing reforestation and biodiversity conservation through native tree planting and community engagement initiatives.
Haribon’s native tree plantings for Manulife are now monitored using Veritree’s Smart Forest Technology, enabling real-time tracking of growth, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity impact. This ensures transparency and accountability while supporting evidence-based conservation strategies.
As of the end of 2025, Manulife Philippines and Haribon have planted more than 31,000 native plants across terrestrial and coastal areas nationwide.
“As one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, the Philippines faces escalating risks from extreme weather events,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Philippines. “This reality reinforces the urgency of investing in initiatives that protect our ecosystems while empowering local communities. Manulife Impact Forests reflects our long-term commitment to sustainability, ensuring future generations inherit a healthier and more resilient planet.”
For more information about Manulife’s sustainability initiatives and community partnerships, visit Manulife.com/sustainability. To learn more about Veritree’s technology, visit veritree.com.
