Forest conservation · protecting existing carbon stocks
Climate Action and Natural Climate Solutions
Emissions inventories, climate action plans, forestry, ecosystem services and native landscapes.
SustainabilityMultiple metrics of analysis
- Canopy cover & habitat
- Water retention & runoff
- Carbon storage & biodiversity
Where evidence becomes action
Sustainability analysis, strategy, and implementation grounded in science and built around people, places, and practical results.
Research & AI-enabled analysis
Putting science and technology into practice
Ground Truth's approach combines academic research, AI-assisted analysis and curated datasets with hands-on sustainability experience. Working alongside your team, I turn that evidence into priorities, decisions and practical results. As AI reshapes how organizations learn and work, sustainability practice must adapt with it: combining new analytical capabilities with scientific rigor, human judgment and accountability.
Full consulting servicesObserve
Gather the data, research and perspectives that establish a baseline.
Analyze
Connect academic research, AI-assisted analysis and practical experience.
Decide
Compare options, weigh tradeoffs and choose priorities with confidence.
Act
Work alongside your team to turn shared priorities into practical action.
Verify
Measure environmental, social and economic outcomes, then refine the work.
Willow field research · Justin Heavey’s photo archive
Research and planning
Evidence reviews, project comparisons, funding opportunities and implementation roadmaps.
Professional consulting · Illustrative collaboration
People and programs
Stakeholder facilitation, sustainability education, shared responsibilities and progress reporting.
Living systems
Salix Systems
Willow systems for infrastructure, restoration, water, biomass and working landscapes.
From site assessment and planting design to establishment, monitoring and applied research, connect living systems with practical project needs.
Explore Salix Systems
Living Snow Fences and Agroforestry
Ecosystem Services and Ecological Engineering
Biomass and Bioenergy Plantings
Native landscapes
Eco-mimics of rare native plant communities
Apply lessons from native plant communities to designed landscapes and green roofs.
Justin contributed to the SUNY ESF Gateway green roof under Don Leopold. Its planting design draws from eastern Lake Ontario dunes and northeastern Lake Ontario alvar pavement barrens.
Explore community views and native plant studies. Captions distinguish New York sites, Great Lakes analogues and cultivated specimens; these are not photographs of the roof itself.
Explore the ESF example
Alvar pavement and grassland
Thin soils over limestone create a mosaic of exposed rock, grassland and low woody vegetation. Seasonal wetness and summer drought favor plants adapted to these extremes, offering a reference for demanding planted landscapes.
Ecology reference ↗
Great Lakes dune communities
Wind, shifting sand and low fertility shape these lakeshore communities. Beachgrass, dune willow and other adapted plants help hold sand in place, while sheltered areas support shrubs and woodland. Their adaptations inform planting for exposed sites.
Ecology reference ↗
Research infrastructure
Verdant OS
Our sustainability databases and purpose-built tools support the work behind each engagement.
Curated research, source registers and planning tools bring evidence into project context. AI-assisted analysis helps connect the material; professional judgment and field verification determine what it means.
Controlled workspace access for Ground Truth and invited client teams.
Verdant.OSSustainability workspaceYour sustainability workspacePortfolio
Portfolio
command center
Living landscapesOne site. One system.Research connected to place.
Connected databasesConcept preview
Research databasesSources · context · references
Climate & carbonBoundaries · measures · reporting
Living landscapesSites · systems · implementation
Evidence into decisionsResearch → Assess → Verify → Act
The research workspace
Research databases
Literature, datasets and technical references
Connected evidence
Sources, context and project questions
Planning tools
Site assessment, options and implementation
Climate & carbonLiving landscapesInstitutional sustainability
Developed to support consulting and applied research.
Working together
Ways to work together
Choose a focused assessment, a deeper evidence base or ongoing strategic support. Each engagement has a defined scope, timeline and fee.
10 business days
Sustainability Intelligence Brief
A public-evidence view of where your institution stands and what leadership can do in the next 90 days.
$2,500fixed founding-client feeComplete scope ↗
4 weeks
Sustainability Data Deep Dive
A working institutional record with owners, reporting rhythms, and decisions attached.
$7,500fixed engagementComplete scope ↗
12 months
Founding Institutional Partnership
An institutional sustainability agenda, a flagship priority, and yearlong strategic support.
$20,000three founding positionsComplete scope ↗
Custom scopes. Project-specific engagements are developed around your objectives, deliverables, timeline and budget.
Discuss your project ↗
Experience & professional background
Virtual CV v0.1
Explore my experience, publications and project work in sustainability research, consulting and practical implementation.
ExperienceProjectsPublications
Explore my virtual CV ↗Contact
Let’s talk about your sustainability goals
Sustainability research, planning and practical implementation. Get in touch to discuss your priorities and scope.
Justin Heavey
Sustainability consultant
justin@groundtruthsustainability.com(315) 401-0224TextCell and text