About Building Carbon
From field research to implementation.
Building Carbon is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit implementation catalyst. It coordinates funding, partnerships, technical capacity, project management, and accountability around field-developed work in agroforestry, bamboo, and regenerative bioeconomy development.
01 · Institutional roles
Three entities. Distinct responsibilities.
Research, education, and implementation remain connected without becoming interchangeable.
Los Arboleros provides the permanent field site. Regeneration Field Institute structures education and applied research. Building Carbon develops, finances, and manages larger public-benefit projects with local communities and institutional partners.
Physical field site
Los Arboleros Farm
A family-owned farm providing the land, infrastructure, operating continuity, and real-world conditions required for long-term trials, training, and research in coastal Ecuador.
View the field-site profileEducation and applied research
Regeneration Field Institute
Field education, curriculum development, practitioner training, applied research, and learning partnerships grounded in active projects.
View the education and research profileNonprofit implementation catalyst
Building Carbon
Project development, fundraising, partner coordination, financial administration, implementation management, and public accountability.
Explore field implementation02 · Origin and continuity
A decade of field development.
The current organizational ecosystem grew through post-earthquake construction, long-term land management at Los Arboleros, applied education and research through RFI, and the need to turn field-developed projects into scalable solutions for local communities. Building Carbon was established in November 2024 as the nonprofit structure capable of financing, coordinating, and managing that wider implementation.
2016
Post-earthquake work begins.
Bamboo construction connects immediate shelter needs with local materials, technical training, and longer-term questions about rural resilience.
2017
A permanent field platform is established.
Los Arboleros and RFI create the land base, operating continuity, research conditions, and educational structure required for long-term development.
November 2024
Building Carbon is established.
Lucas Oshun and Raisa Torres establish Building Carbon to assemble the financing, partnerships, management, and accountability required to move field-developed projects toward larger implementation with local communities.
03 · People and governance
Responsibility from field operations to board oversight.
Many staff serve across both Building Carbon and RFI, managing program development, research, field implementation, partner coordination, and operational continuity.
Staff
Program management and field operations
Program development
Raisa Torres
Chief Cacao Officer
Research and development
Oscar Lucas-Solis
Lead Scientist and Development Coordinator
Program management
Beth Huggins
Program Manager
Field implementation
Ecuador Zambrano
Field Technician
Agroforestry operations
Dixon Olmedo
Agroforestry Operations Manager
Board
Nonprofit governance and institutional oversight
The board provides strategic direction, governance, and accountability for Building Carbon’s legal, financial, and public-benefit responsibilities.
Founder and Director
Lucas Oshun
Board member
Felix Böck
Board member
Susana Cardenas
Board member
Micah Elias
Board member
Melanie Valencia
04 · Strategic partners
Capacity is assembled through collaboration.
Building Carbon works with active partners whose responsibilities span field operations, education, applied research, farmer-led learning, grant governance, material development, and territorial relationships.
Education and applied research
Regeneration Field Institute
Field education, curriculum development, practitioner training, and applied research across agroforestry, ecological restoration, and bamboo systems.
Partner profilePermanent field base
Los Arboleros Farm
Long-term land, infrastructure, field operations, and trial capacity for research, education, and system development in Manabí.
Partner profileFarmer-learning collaboration
EkoRural
Farmer-led learning, agrobiodiversity, endogenous development, and participatory agricultural work with rural communities across Ecuador.
Partner profileGrant structure and governance
Rotary International
Local and international club sponsorship, district resources, Foundation participation, financial controls, and formal grant reporting.
Partner profileBamboo research and development
Virginia Tech BioDesign Research Group
Collaborative MassBu research integrating industrial design, biomaterials, fabrication, structural development, and applied construction.
Partner profileAmazon partnership
Fundación Pachamama
Collaboration connecting conservation, Indigenous rights, local economic development, infrastructure, and project relationships in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Partner profile05 · Contact
Clear identity. Direct contact.
Building Carbon is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Direct contributions are tax-deductible as permitted by U.S. law. Contact the organization for partnership inquiries, campaign documentation, or current project information.
Building Carbon
Building Carbon · Construir Carbono
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
7910 Swartz Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472, USA