Despite collecting money via Shopify, wire transfers, or crypto, SeaTrees - a project by Sustainable Surf - struggled to show donors clear results. Even though efforts focused on reviving mangroves, kelp beds, and coral reefs globally, feedback to supporters felt outdated. Funding flowed in different ways; yet transparency didn’t keep pace. Progress was real, but communication lagged behind.
The "Black Box" Issue: Old-style carbon credit methods used PDFs plus unclear checks. People giving $20 to grow mangroves in Kenya or aid the Southern Cardamom REDD+ effort in Cambodia couldn’t clearly track personal results. The link from gift to result seemed vague, hard to grasp.
Fragmented Data Architecture: As SeaTrees grew worldwide, its data setup got more tangled. While environmental details stayed on Regen Network, sales info sat in Commerce Layer and Shopify instead. Payment records spread through banks and digital wallets alike. No single system linked a given donation to exact trees or coastal projects.
Cost versus scalability: typical NFT creation on-chain makes low-value gifts impractical. Normal transaction costs mean a $20 donation could vanish just by covering fees. When dealing with large numbers of people funding gradual reforestation, this method fails to expand efficiently.
Web2 vs Web3 access divide: SeaTrees had to support crypto users wanting wallet links and chain visibility, while also meeting needs of regular supporters unfamiliar with Web3, desiring basic sign-in via email or social media.
Real-Time Impact Visualization: Live impact tracking meant replacing fixed PDF reports with a dynamic tool. Instead of spreadsheets updated by hand, it pulls straight from blockchain updates. One feature shows single trees planted. Another displays when carbon credits are retired. Growth progress appears through evolving forest visuals. Location details come up on responsive maps. Each part runs on real-time inputs.
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