Advances and shortfalls in applying best practices to global tree‐growing efforts

BACKGROUND:

Over the past three decades, there has been a rapid increase in the number of organizations engaged in tree planting to meet international targets exceeding a trillion trees. These initiatives aim to sequester carbon, conserve biodiversity, enhance water quality, and reduce social inequity. Despite these goals, frequent failures and unintended ecological and social impacts have led to the creation of numerous best practice guidelines for reforestation.

GOALS AND METHODS:

The study evaluates how well tree-growing organizations adhere to best practices by reviewing the public disclosures of 99 intermediary groups funding such projects. It examines these organizations' commitment to ecological sustainability, community engagement, and project transparency. Methods include analyzing website content against best practices standards, focusing on long-term project viability and community benefits.

CONCLUSIONS AND TAKEAWAYS:

The paper concludes that many tree-planting organizations still fail to fully integrate best practices into their operations, particularly in monitoring and long-term project sustainability. The study recommends the development of standardized protocols and better transparency to ensure that tree-planting initiatives achieve their ecological and social goals effectively.