Unlocking the Value of Nature

For Aruna Pradipta, nature has always been more than a professional interest; it is a lifelong passion. As a trained Biologist, Aruna’s career began as the first hire for a climate-tech startup helping Indonesian cooperatives access international sustainable timber markets. He later transitioned to a system change company, where he incubated regenerative businesses and supported forest concessions in moving from extractive logging to nature-based solutions like non-timber forest products and payment for ecosystem services.

After more than a decade in the industry, Aruna arrived at a singular realization: nature is one of the world's most undervalued assets. While every hectare of forest or mangrove holds immense value, very few understand how to unlock that value or help the market appreciate it. This shared values in unlocking the power of Nature was what made him joined Fairatmos.

3 Shaping Years: Building The Infrastructure and Talent for Peatlands to Mangrove

Aruna’s perspective on the viability of nature-based projects is rooted in "first principles" developed through diverse, hands-on exposure. His journey has taken him across the Indonesian archipelago, from swimming through peatlands in Kalimantan and engaging with indigenous honey-harvesters in Jambi to developing complex carbon sequestration models and securing international investment.

These experiences taught him that a truly viable project is never just about financial returns. Instead, it must serve as a blueprint for climate action that generates long-lasting economical, social, and ecological returns. However, as Aruna notes, achieving this balance is often easier said than done.

Throughout the first three years of his journey in Fairatmos he has been essential in translating all the science, methodology into robust financial models. As well as coaching and mentoring one mind at a time to build Fairatmos. The diverse landscape from Peatland to Mangrove has not deterred him from always bringing the standard of integrity with a first principles approach in making sure practicality. 

The Technology Bridge: Scaling High-Integrity Projects

Aruna believes technology is the key to unlocking the value of nature. He believes that through product suites like AtmosCheck and AtmosWatch, Fairatmos helps asset owners understand and manage their forestry assets to meet the high-integrity bar of modern carbon projects.

"Ultimately, we are building products that are not aimed to reinvent forests. It makes forests investable," Aruna explains.

One of the most underrated risks in the current industry is the misconception that carbon projects are "quick and easy". Aruna emphasizes that nature-based projects have multi-dimensional depth that goes far beyond simply putting up fences or relocating people.

To hit the mark of high quality, the industry must move away from quick fixes and focus on Longevity, Durability, Permanence and that is what he envisions Fairatmos to deliver.

A Vision for The Future

Stepping up as a Co-Founder, Aruna will jointly shape how the future of Fairatmos will be. Looking toward the next decade, Aruna wants Fairatmos to be defined by a new operational standard: making nature-based carbon projects more predictable and investable at scale. In a sector often characterized by bespoke projects and fragile assumptions, he aims for outcomes that are science based, repeatable, auditable, and resilient across different ecosystems and regulatory environments. His role as the Industry Expert at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Executive Certificate in Carbon Markets Programme speaks to the academic and scientific rigor and the network and partnerships he will bring in shaping the years to come at Fairatmos.

"My version of success is when Fairatmos can make nature-based projects like a clockwork in the best possible way: durable, predictable, and built to last," says Aruna. By building this infrastructure, Fairatmos continues its mission to Restore Nature, Together."