Across Southeast Asia, abandoned and legacy mining sites leave behind scarred landscapes, depleted biodiversity, and long-term health risks for nearby communities.
They also represent locked economic potential, with degraded lands that no longer contribute to local or national revenue.
One company positioning itself as a solution is Viridis Terra International, led by Québec-based founder Martin Beaudoin-Nadeau. With a track record in ecological restoration and international development, Viridis Terra has pioneered an Integrated Forest Landscape Restoration (IFLR®) model that combines technology, ecological science, and community development. The company’s work already spans Peru, Burkina Faso, Canada, and Haiti.
Viridis Terra International’s Integrated Forest Landscape Restoration
(IFLR®) Model
Their model restores degraded land while generating tangible returns—for investors, local communities, and the environment—through carbon removal, new revenue streams, job creation, and forest protection.
We hope to bring greater media attention to what these old sites could be—transforming abandoned or degraded mine sites into usable, safe, and ecologically valuable land.
— Martin Beaudoin-Nadeau
Just as crucial is Viridis Terra’s focus on social inclusion. The company emphasizes participatory approaches that share benefits with local communities, strengthen resilience, and align with international standards for equitable mine rehabilitation.
ASEAN governments are also showing interest in this issue. In June 2025, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau joined regional experts at a workshop in Bandung, Indonesia, titled Advancing Sustainable Resource Management: Enhancing Underground Mining and Mine Reclamation Expertise Across ASEAN. Hosted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and supported by the ASEAN–Korea Economic Cooperation Fund, the event highlighted how sustainable mine rehabilitation is gaining traction as a regional policy priority.
Toward a Net Zero and Nature-Positive Future in Southeast Asia’s Mining Sector
“Our goal is to bring advanced solutions to society and all industries for reaching a net zero emission and nature positive resilient future through the large-scale restoration of natural capital in degraded landscapes. By aligning with One Atmosphere, we hope to bring greater media attention to what these old sites could be—transforming abandoned or degraded mine sites into usable, safe, and ecologically valuable land,” said Beaudoin-Nadeau.
With its integrated approach and proven expertise, Viridis Terra offers Southeast Asia a blueprint for restoring ecological integrity while empowering people and unlocking new economic opportunities.
With this new generation rising, Thailand is showing how climate awareness can be transformed into climate action—one idea, one project, and one student at a time. 
