Who We are

Accelerated Restoration Collaborative (ARC)

The Dynamics That Make ARC Unique

Our Commitment

ARC is committed to developing simple, effective, and scalable solutions for the world’s cascading sociological and environmental issues.

Mission Driven

ARC's mission is to provide economic opportunity for communities to be responsible stewards of the planet entrusted to all of our care.

proven Methods

Employment for local communities as forest stewards is the proven method for the restoration of local and regional forests.

Affordable Trees

Economies of scale will ensure a more affordable price per tree and cost per hectare. ARC has no interest in barely making a difference.

Proven Leadership

ARC’s leadership team has over 50 years of combined field experience in forest restoration systems resulting in over 1 billion trees planted across the planet.

Global Connections

ARC’s leaders have a massive global relational web ranging from government officials to remote local community members. Effective forest restoration projects start with who you know, not just what you know.

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ARC Team

Dr. Stephen Fitch

CEO,CO-Founder, Partnerships Director, Accelerated Restoration Training (ART) Program Lead

Dr. Stephen Fitch, ARC CEO, Co-Founder, and Partnerships Director is renowned for his exceptional vision and leadership in environmental restoration. With 17 years of experience as the Founder and CEO of Eden Reforestation Projects, Steve has a proven track record of transforming ideas into impactful global initiatives. In 2022, he founded Compassionate Carbon and took on the role of CEO, demonstrating his continued commitment to innovative, nature-based solutions. Steve’s remarkable ability to cast a compelling vision for sustainable change has been instrumental in advancing ARC’s mission and driving meaningful progress in environmental restoration.

Under Steve’s leadership, Eden Reforestation Projects became the first international non-profit to plant over one billion trees, achieved through fair wage employment for thousands of local community members. His experience with Eden and Compassionate Carbon has provided him with deep insights into leadership, cross-cultural collaboration, and large-scale forest restoration. Now with ARC, Dr. Fitch is focused on developing global restoration projects and training other leaders to scale their own initiatives.

Josiah is ARC’s Director of Operations and Co-founder. He was formerly the Asia Expansion Director at Eden Reforestation and has an extensive background in managing large-scale environmental projects. He has overseen the restoration of over 20,000 hectares of land across the Philippines including reforestation initiatives in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental in Mindanao, watershed restoration and mangrove rehabilitation on the Dinagat Islands, and reforestation efforts in Botolan, Zambales in Luzon. Prior to co-founding ARC, he worked at Compassionate Carbon as the APAC Carbon Offset Project Feasibility and Development Manager, specializing in assessing and developing carbon offset projects across the Asia-Pacific region.

Josiah Fitch

Director of Operations and Co-founder

Dr. James Tiburcio

Country Director of Brazil

Dr. James Tiburcio, co-founder of SamaÚma Socio-Environmental Projects, has a strong background in economics, international relations, and sustainable development. He began his journey in Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) as the manager for Eden Reforestation Projects in Brazil, later expanding his work through partnerships with organizations like RAIN and founding SamaÚma to focus on community-led environmental restoration. His work emphasizes empowering marginalized communities through sustainable practices, particularly in response to climate change and food security challenges. Dr. Tiburcio is passionate about creating holistic, ethical solutions that not only restore ecosystems but also uplift and protect local communities. He believes that addressing the climate crisis requires a collective effort, innovation, and a shift in how financial and environmental risks are assessed.

Jamie, born and raised in Madagascar as a missionary kid, has developed a deep understanding of Malagasy culture and language, along with a strong love for his home country and its people. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master’s in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. With over 18 years of specialized experience, Jamie serves as the Mangrove Restoration Lead and Madagascar Director of Red Island Restoration, bringing deep expertise in mangrove and dry deciduous forest restoration. His academic background in Biology and Intercultural Studies provides a solid foundation for his work in biodiversity preservation and community engagement. Jamie’s leadership is instrumental in advancing successful restoration efforts in Madagascar's unique ecosystems.

Jamie Shattenberg

Country Director of Madagascar