Mangroves are vital for coastal resilience, marine life breeding, and carbon sequestration. Despite the undeniable worth of such trees, they are rapidly dwindling in many areas around the world. Hank Dearden is actively spearheading reforestation projects through ForestPlanet to solve this alarming problem – at an average cost of just 15 cents per tree. Joining Corinna Bellizzi, he explains how they forge global partnerships and initiate fundraising campaigns to lead mangrove restorations worldwide, particularly in coastal communities and fishing villages. Hank also dissects the complicated yet worthwhile process of growing mangroves, as well as the impact of the evolving carbon markets on such environmental efforts.

About Guest:

Hank Dearden III is Founder and Executive Director of ForestPlanet, Inc. a 501(c)3 organization based in Washington, DC. Launched in 2018, ForestPlanet supports large scale, low cost-per-tree reforestation projects around the world. The focus is on planting trees where they will have the greatest positive impact on the soil, local habitat, the environment, and communities in peril. More than 2 million trees have been planted to date, and the rate is accelerating. His background is in sales and marketing. He founded his own agency, Group 3D, in 1995, which focuses on media buying, event production, professional services, marketing and promotion in the business-to-business and business-to-consumer areas. His an original member of the New Media Society of Washington, and also served on the Board of Directors Advertising Club of Metropolitan Washington. Hank holds an A.B. in Mathematics from Vassar College and a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouth College.

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/hankdearden/

Guest Website: https://forestplanet.org

Guest Social: 

https://www.Instagram.com/forestplanetorg/

https://www.facebook.com/GoNegative

Show Notes: Raw audio

00:02:56 - How Hank Dearden Started ForestPlanet

00:07:27- Hanks’ Journey To Fulfillment

00:14:22 - Mangrove Planting Project In Tanzania

00:25:04 - The Tricky And Challenging Process Of Growing Mangroves

00:35:34 - ForestPlanet’s Fundraising Campaigns

00:47:11 - Environmentalism Should Never Be Political

00:50:32 - Getting Into Carbon Markets

00:58:46 - Get In Touch With Hank

01:00:58 - Episode Wrap-up And Closing Words

BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER

🌴 Subscribe to our newsletter, and we’ll plant a tree in your honor!

🌲 Subscribe and rate us wherever you listen, and we’ll plant another tree

🌱 Together, we’ve planted 24,251 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. Follow, subscribe, or join our newsletter to help us keep growing!

Follow us on social media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better