**In Greece, the island of Euboea is home to one of the country's last multi-centenary chestnut groves. Part of the Natura 2000 network, the Kastanologos forest on Mount Ochi is in a critical state. With chestnut trees estimated to be between 200 and 450 years old, the forest is ageing without renewing itself due to the impact of climate change and overgrazing by livestock, which consumes the young shoots. A scientific research and natural regeneration project for the Kastanologos chestnut grove has therefore been set up by Reforest'Action in 2022, in partnership with the Forest Research Institute of Thessaloniki. The project, which aims to support the regeneration of 37,500 trees over 25 hectares by 2027, will also advance research into the restoration and conservation of other European chestnut groves, while supporting the sustainable development of traditional livestock farming.**

![Karystos-2.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Karystos_2_d2ae42d244.jpg)

## Europe's chestnut groves: forests on the verge of extinction 

### Chestnut trees in the Mediterranean region

Native to the Mediterranean, chestnut (Castanea sativa) was at first highly prized by forest owners, before being abandoned in the 1970s. In the 20th century, the management system for chestnut forests was mainly based on short rotations of 12 to 30 years. The wood harvested was used to make poles for agriculture and power lines, as well as for heating. But traditional chestnut wood products suffered from competition from synthetic materials from the 1970s onwards. As a result, many chestnut forests were abandoned by their owners or by local authorities, due to a lack of economic outlets.

Today, in Mediterranean Europe, chestnut groves often remain in a state of abandonment. Overgrown with vegetation and faced with climate change, they struggle to regenerate. However, chestnut wood is still appreciated for its technical and aesthetic properties in the crafts, woodworking and interior design sectors. Chestnut groves are also invaluable reservoirs for flora and fauna, and, when properly maintained, offer a higher level of biodiversity than closed forests. The implementation of silvicultural methods compatible with the principles of sustainable management could thus make it possible to restore the ecosystem services of these forests and contribute to the production of high-value wood, while supporting the social, cultural and economic development of European agricultural and mountain areas.

### Kastanologos: a Greek chestnut grove in critical condition

In Greece, the island of Euboea is home to one of the country's last multi-century chestnut groves. Part of the Natura 2000 network, the public forest of Kastanologos, on Mount Ochi, is remarkable for its rich floral biodiversity, and is home to rare and endangered species, some of which are endemic, such as Allium Orestis, Viola euboea, Centaurea raphanina and Crepis hellenica.

Yet this chestnut grove is in a critical state: with a surface area of 61.95 hectares, it has lost half its cover over the last 60 years. Overgrazing by livestock, mainly goats and sheep, has prevented any natural regeneration of the trees, with seed reserves and young shoots being systematically consumed by wildlife. With chestnut trees estimated to be between 200 and 450 years old, the forest is aging without renewing itself, with numerous dead branches and standing dead trees. In addition, climate change, which leads to heat peaks, increasingly long periods of drought and sometimes even major forest fires on the island of Euboea, is combined with fungal infestations. These factors are leading not only to the decline of the Kastanologos forest, but also to the gradual extinction of chestnut trees throughout the region.

![Karystos-7.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Karystos_7_0a70ea8465.jpg)

In order to remedy the damage caused by overgrazing, fences have been installed over the past few years in certain areas of Kastanologos to study the consequences of excluding livestock on the natural regeneration of chestnut trees. Thanks to these initial protective measures, seedlings have already been observed, originating from seeds that have fallen to the ground. Encouraged by these initial results, a scientific research and natural regeneration project for the Kastanologos chestnut grove has been set up by Reforest'Action in 2022, in partnership with the Forestry Research Institute of Thessaloniki.

![Map-Karystos.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Map_Karystos_a8af2a9d1b.png)
On the Greek island of Euboea, northeast of Athens, the chestnut grove of Kastanologos is part of the Natura 2000 network, shown in red on the map.
 
### Birth of a scientific project to regenerate the Kastanologos chestnut grove

In the field, Dr Gavriil Spyroglou, the project's scientific manager, is responsible for coordinating and managing the research and work. “We want to develop a sufficient density of chestnut seedlings to enable the sustainable renewal of the Kastanologos forest”, he explains. "At the end of the regeneration period, the forest will have become a bipartite chestnut grove, made up of both stumps (which are valuable habitats for biodiversity) and young chestnut seedlings. We are convinced that the renewed forest will be more resilient in the face of climate change. The project, which aims to support the regeneration of 37,500 trees over 25 hectares by 2027, has both scientific and operational objectives:
- Firstly, an assessment of the state of conservation of the Kastanologos chestnut grove, and a study of the forest's carrying capacity (i.e. the maximum number of animals that a given area can tolerate without irreparable damage to the plant resource or the soil), in order to devise a silvicultural plan including, in particular, the regulation of grazing by domestic livestock;
- On the other hand, silvicultural actions such as fencing off areas to be restored and supporting the natural regeneration of chestnut trees. As the chestnut tree is a species that can reproduce both sexually (by seeds from mature trees that have fallen to the ground) and asexually (from shoots that grow back naturally on the stumps), various actions will be implemented, such as planting campaigns using locally harvested seeds and cutting down dying chestnut trees to stimulate the appearance of new shoots.

![Karystos-1.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Karystos_1_a3ec4ec60e.jpg)

## A project design adapted to local conditions

### Modifying grazing practices to better respect the ecosystem

Grazing directly or indirectly influences the growth, survival and reproduction of plant species, and is therefore an important factor in determining the evolution of ecological succession, i.e. the natural process by which an ecosystem evolves and develops. While moderate grazing intensity generally promotes plant community diversity by reducing the competitiveness of dominant plant species, overgrazing causes profound changes in ecosystem composition and structure, leading in particular to reduced plant populations and livestock performance.

Traditionally used as grazing land for 4 to 6 months a year by 3 herds of goats and 2 herds of sheep belonging to local breeders (i.e. around 750 herbivores), the Kastanologos forest is suffering from this use, which far exceeds its carrying capacity.

In order to gradually change grazing practices within the chestnut grove, grazing zones have been delimited, taking into account both the animals' food requirements and the need to protect certain areas to allow the forest to regenerate. These boundaries will evolve over the course of the project, with ongoing monitoring of the spatial and temporal distribution of livestock and grazing intensity, in order to identify areas of the forest that are under- or over-used by the herds. During the period when certain forest areas are fenced off, the herds will be provided with supplementary feed.

The livestock can then be reintroduced when the young trees have reached a sufficient height not to be consumed. This reintroduction will have to be carried out in reasonable quantities: the carrying capacity of Kastanologos has thus been estimated at 678 small herbivores per month, which is much lower than the carrying capacity prior to the implementation of the restoration project.

Thanks to this methodological approach, it will be possible to provide guidelines for sustainable grazing management, respectful of biodiversity and guaranteeing the stability of the restored forest ecosystem. Field checks and data collection will be carried out regularly to document this process and make it replicable in other European chestnut groves, with the aim of restoring and conserving these precious forests while supporting the sustainable development of traditional livestock farming.

![Karystos-8.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Karystos_8_e059b1145b.jpg)

### Supporting the regeneration and expansion of chestnut groves 

Chestnut is a species capable of sprouting after being cut, whatever the diameter or age of the tree. This asexual, (or vegetative) reproduction enables the formation of clones with the same genetic heritage as the mother plant. Within Kastanologos, a 10-hectare experimental plot will be set up in which dead chestnut trees are gradually felled in accordance with the regeneration plan. The wood resulting from the felling operations, if it cannot be supplied to local residents, will be chipped and scattered on the forest floor for faster decomposition and nutrient recycling. Five dead or dying chestnut trees per hectare will be left to provide habitat and maintain the forest's high level of biodiversity. The gradual felling of dead trees within the plot will not only free existing seedlings from the shade of the mother forest, and create new ones where none existed before, but also allow new shoots to germinate from the stumps.

![Karystos-5.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Karystos_5_cdf08f9794.jpg)

At the same time, a 5-hectare plot will be attached to the existing chestnut grove and fenced off to sow seeds and plant chestnut seedlings derived from the sexual reproduction of Kastanologos living trees. Trees will also be planted in another 10-hectare plot, in the interstices between the forest's living chestnut trees.

All these young trees will be protected by a protocol of silvicultural interventions that will guarantee the establishment of perennial natural regeneration and the healthy growth of the new forest. To diversify the stand and optimize its resilience to hazards and climate change, emphasis will also be placed on developing 4 other tree species whose natural regeneration has been noted in the chestnut grove: hawthorn, scrub oak, holm oak and juniper.

![Karystos-4.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Karystos_4_53fca25f11.jpg)

### Setting up a weather station to help manage the project

In parallel with the forestry project, the installation of a local weather station is planned to support the management of silvicultural activities. The station will comprise wind speed and direction sensors, an air temperature sensor, a rain gauge, a total solar radiation sensor, a soil temperature and humidity sensor, a data logger, a solar panel, a battery for power supply and a GSM card for telematic data transmission. “We believe that an in situ meteorological station is very important in helping to make decisions about the management of the project and the forest in general,” says Dr. Gavriil Spyroglou. “Indeed, we pay particular attention to the amount and distribution of precipitation, which are key variables for most of the interventions we plan to implement as part of the project between now and 2027.”

Situated at an altitude of 1,000 metres, almost at the summit of Mount Ochi, the Kastanologos forest lies at the level of a climatic buffer zone, influenced by the mountains and subject to temperature and precipitation variations and powerful winds. The meteorological station will provide precise, localized meteorological information, which will help to adapt silvicultural measures for adequate natural regeneration of the chestnut grove. It will also contribute to research into the long-term climate and the effects of climate change on high-altitude forests in general, with a view to developing adaptive management strategies to mitigate these effects and guarantee their long-term survival. Finally, the station will enable the collection of environmental data that are essential for studying the relationship between climate and biodiversity. By understanding the climatic conditions that support specific habitats and species, it will then be possible to assess the potential impacts of climate change on this particular forest ecosystem and develop a sustainable plan for the regeneration and conservation of the Kastanologos chestnut grove.

![Karystos-3.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Karystos_3_9451339e6c.jpg)

**Thanks to its scientific research component, which supports the forestry work carried out to regenerate the Kastanologos chestnut grove, the project meets the need for knowledge and expertise in the regeneration and expansion of European forests. The dissemination of the project's results will thus contribute to the effectiveness of forest management in a context of climate change, and make available tools that can be adapted to the restoration of other mountain forests, and in particular chestnut groves, currently in a critical state in Europe.
At Kastanologos, the young forest that will emerge from the regeneration work will be more resilient to hazards and climate change, and will provide new ecological niches for the rich local biodiversity. It will also help maintain economic opportunities in the environmental engineering, crafts, cultural education and ecotourism sectors. By supporting the development of more sustainable farming practices, the project will open up additional employment opportunities for farmers and small family businesses on the island of Euboea. All benefits in line with a multifunctional vision of forests.** 


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Greece: an experimental project to safeguard a centuries-old chestnut grove

**The monitoring of forestry projects after they have been implemented is fundamental and a cornerstone of our action. Reforest'Action has a rigorous monitoring process, adapted to geographical zones and project types. In France and Europe, remote monitoring is complemented by a field audit carried out by Reforest'Action project managers at least once during the first five years following project implementation. Analysis of the data generated by this monitoring process is used to formulate management recommendations and apply corrective measures as part of a continuous improvement process. Here are the results of the monitoring campaign carried out between April and November 2023 on a panel of projects located in Europe.**

![Saint-Angel-2.jpg](/uploads/Saint_Angel_2_6e5de276b1.jpg)
 
## Monitor projects remotely to assess their health
### What is the remote project monitoring protocol?

Remote monitoring is based on information transmitted by the project implementers (forest owners or managers) via a digital data collection tool and, where applicable, by telephone. Reforest'Action project managers then analyze the data, which includes tree survival rates, plot health, potential damage, the presence of biodiversity-friendly elements, and actions taken by the plot owner or manager to ensure the success of the project.

This remote monitoring enables us to check the general condition of the projects and the proper development of the stands, to enrich Reforest'Action's knowledge of each project and to prepare for future field visits. 
 
### What are the results of remote monitoring in 2023?
 
#### Evaluating the survival rate

In 2023, 294 data forms from projects in France and the rest of Europe were received and processed by Reforest'Action as part of the distant monitoring campaign in 2023. These forms submitted by the project implementers reported an average survival rate of 79.84%. This rate measures the number of healthy trees in relation to the total number of trees planted as part of a project. In total, by 2023, 71% of remotely monitored projects across Europe will have a very good survival rate, of 80% or more.  
 
#### Game and drought, two frequent causes of damage

The most common types of damage to young forests are those inflicted by game, which affected almost half of the projects monitored in Europe in 2023, but also those linked to climate. Drought episodes, characterized by prolonged rainfall deficits and increasingly frequent in a context of global warming, had an impact on 60.2% of projects monitored remotely across Europe in 2023. Despite these frequent biotic and climatic hazards, only 3.74% of projects actually suffer from poor overall health according to the remote surveys, representing a cumulative total of 3,370.66 hectares, or around 4 million plants.
 
### What corrective measures will be put in place for projects that need them?

For projects with less satisfactory survival rates, corrective measures will be implemented in accordance with the contractual commitment of the project implementers. For example, replanting, which consists of renewing planting operations in areas where reforestation has failed, may be carried out to enable these projects to approach a survival rate of 80%.

From Reforest'Action's point of view, these projects will be monitored more closely in the coming year, to verify the improvement in stand health. In the rare case of a project subject to a major hazard, such as a fire or flood, Reforest'Action observes the evolution of the post-hazard ecosystem to decide on the best course of action. This is a long-term, case-by-case process. 

In addition, we recommend that, before planting, project implementers use the funding they receive not only to carry out planting operations, but also to properly prepare the plots and protect the young seedlings from the teeth of game. 

![Suivi-terrain_Maine-et-loire_2023_ReforestAction-20.jpg](/uploads/Suivi_terrain_Maine_et_loire_2023_Reforest_Action_20_e65576b8e3.jpg)
 
## Audit projects in the field to ensure their success
### How does Reforest'Action select the projects audited in the field?

Field monitoring is carried out by Reforest'Action project managers within the region for which they are responsible. Because there are so many projects to monitor (over 1,500 projects have been developed in France and Europe since 2010), field monitoring is prioritized before each annual campaign. The aim of this prioritization is to first target projects for which remote monitoring has revealed potential problems. It also aims to ensure that all projects will be monitored in the field at least once during the five years following a project's operational implementation. 
 
### What does involve a project monitoring in the field?

In order to carry out field monitoring, sampling is first carried out within the plot concerned, in order to determine sub-plots that are considered representative of the plot's general condition: some sub-plots are thus established within a dense vegetation zone, others within a zone with a low survival rate, and still others according to the plot's specific topographical conditions (altitude, slope level, rocky or wet environment...). This stratification process, which can be carried out by remote sensing, enables us to set up an operational monitoring system that reflects the reality of the project as objectively as possible. 

Within these plots, a manual count is then carried out by the Reforest'Action project manager, who records the number of living and dead trees, the species observed and the potential presence of natural regeneration. Each type of project (forestry or agroforestry projects, urban micro-forestry projects, Assisted Natural Regeneration projects or Low-Carbon label projects) has its own monitoring protocol defined by Reforest'Action.  
 
![Suivi-terrain_Maine-et-loire_2023_ReforestAction-08.jpg](/uploads/Suivi_terrain_Maine_et_loire_2023_Reforest_Action_08_2c38dd64d5.jpg)

### What are the results of field monitoring in 2023?
 
In 2023, field audits took place from April to November. For all 204 projects visited by Reforest'Action in Europe during this period, the average recovery rate was 88.43%.
 
#### 90% of projects validated

Of these 204 projects, 182 (or almost 90% of the projects audited) have been validated by Reforest'Action, i.e. the project manager has assessed that the future of the ecosystem is assured given its evolution. This validation takes into account the project's survival rate, which must be greater than 80% of the total density, including natural regeneration. 

Among the validated projects, the one in Hardelot, Pas-de-Calais, was visited by Laetitia Bernard, Reforest'Action's East of France project manager. _“This project was carried out between 2017 and 2018 to restore a forest affected by ash chalarosis, a parasitic disease that causes the trees it affects to die back,”_ explains Laetitia. _“During our field audit in 2023, we noted an excellent recovery of the planted trees, close to 90%, despite the regular droughts that have affected the department since 2017. Composed of beech, small-leaf lime and hornbeam, the young forest restored thanks to the project is now enriched by clumps of black alder, naturally regenerated and preserved by the forest manager to further accentuate the diversity of the stand. Hardelot is a fine example of a successful project, validated by Reforest'Action's field monitoring."_
 
#### 10% of projects to be corrected

For the remaining 22 projects, considered as “to be corrected”, Reforest'Action formulated written or oral recommendations to forest owners, proposing corrective actions to be implemented or pursued in order to ensure the health and sustainability of the forest ecosystem. 

_“This is the case, for example, of the La Tour-de-Sçay project in the Doubs region of France"_, continues Laetitia Bernard. _“The initial work, carried out in 2019, was aimed at reforesting a plot formerly populated by spruce trees affected by the bark beetle, a wood-eating insect. The species initially chosen were Douglas fir, field maple and walnut. But the Douglas fir seedlings didn't take well. They were replaced by cedars in 2020. When we followed up in the field in 2023, the recovery rate of the cedars was very good. On the other hand, we noted the failure of the maple and walnut plantations, despite two attempts at replanting. We therefore decided, in agreement with the forest manager, to support the natural regeneration of beech, fir and oak trees observed on the plot, and to supplement it with new cedar seedlings, which are particularly well adapted to the site. This evolutionary management of the project will optimize the health and stability of the forest ecosystem."_
 
### A central observation: the need to adapt forests to climate change

In the field, the same trend was observed as in the distant follow-up with regard to the most frequently observed damage: 44.6% of the projects audited in 2023 were affected by biotic hazards, particularly game, and 32% by climatic damage, mainly linked to drought. 

_“These field audits confirm the need to adapt tomorrow's forests to climate change, and to rely on species that are already present and more resistant via the Assisted Natural Regeneration method"_, says Thibaud Poulain, Head of Reforest'Action's Temperate Forests Division. _“The diversification of tree species, in particular, is key to increasing the stability and resilience of ecosystems in the face of future hazards. The selection of different tree species in the design of projects is therefore one of the pillars of Reforest'Action's specifications."_

![Suivi_terrain_Saint-Christol-1_Reforestaction-25.jpg](/uploads/Suivi_terrain_Saint_Christol_1_Reforestaction_25_3f1f11c124.jpg)

## Ecocert Environnement certification

In addition to Reforest'Action's remote and field monitoring protocol, a partnership with Ecocert Environnement was set up in 2020 to have our projects verified by an independent third party. Ecocert Environnement is an auditor specializing in the certification and control of environmental projects, and verifies a series of criteria based on a sampling protocol for projects financed by Reforest'Action. 

In particular, Ecocert Environnement check the name and location of the forestry project, the year the work was carried out, the species planted or regenerated, the health of the plot, the survival rate observed, as well as the reality of the financing raised by Reforest'Action and compliance with the general terms and conditions of sale. 

At each audit visit, Ecocert Environnement's conclusions are backed up by corrective measures that enable us to pursue our continuous improvement approach. In 2023, a panel of 17 projects was audited by Ecocert Environnement, of which 16 were validated and 1 remains to be corrected.

Ecocert Environnement also carries out an administrative review of projects and their management, which includes checking forest owners' commitments, invoices for plant purchases and certificates of origin.
 
![Suivi_terrain_Saint-Jean-Chambre_Reforestaction-05.jpg](/uploads/Suivi_terrain_Saint_Jean_Chambre_Reforestaction_05_33a2f1dc67.jpg)

**In a context of climate change and increased risk of hazards inherent in natural ecosystems, we make it a priority to monitor the projects we develop. This operational monitoring phase aims to verify the success of projects over the five years following their implementation. An impact measurement process will then be deployed on certain projects from the sixth year onwards, to assess the health and stability of the ecosystem and measure the impacts generated by the project on the climate, biodiversity, the soil-water system and the socio-economic sphere. Measuring all these impacts will enable us to observe the multifunctionality of ecosystems, and check their resistance and renewal in the face of disturbance. This will make it easier to support projects over the long term, by implementing a management approach that is increasingly adapted to their evolution.**

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Projects monitoring in Europe: a rigorous process for assessing the health of restored ecosystems

**While a quarter of all known plant and animal species are now endangered, initiatives continue to develop to help preserve them. Among these, The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) is the only international standard to recognize and encourage the protection, restoration and enhancement of biodiversity. As part of the TGBS technical and scientific network, Reforest'Action contributes its expertise in forest ecosystem restoration and impact measurement to develop remote sensing monitoring tools, particularly for assessing plant biodiversity.**
 
![Global-Biodiversity-Standard-0.jpg](/uploads/Global_Biodiversity_Standard_0_2bb73c5ee0.jpg)

## Global biodiversity under threat
 
With a quarter of known plant and animal species now on the brink of extinction, biodiversity loss is one of the top five global risks to society over the next ten years, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Risk Report 2023. Synonymous with biological diversity, biodiversity encompasses the taxonomic, functional and structural diversity of living species. Through the ecological services it provides, biodiversity is essential to maintaining the integrity and resilience of ecosystems. 

Among the main indicators of global biodiversity loss, the decline in the extent of forests underlines their essential role as reservoirs of terrestrial biodiversity when they were the native ecosystem in place. They are home to over 80% of the planet's known terrestrial species. In this respect, a better understanding and preservation of forest biodiversity is essential to help halt the onset of the sixth mass extinction.
 
![Global-Biodiversity-Standard-1.jpg](/uploads/Global_Biodiversity_Standard_1_4d330f21cc.jpg)

## The creation of an international standard dedicated to biodiversity
 
### The ambition of the Global Biodiversity Standard

Introduced in 2022, [The Global Biodiversity Standard](https://www.biodiversitystandard.org/) (TGBS) is the only international standard to recognize and encourage the protection, restoration and enhancement of biodiversity. Against a backdrop of increasing numbers of forest creation and restoration projects, this standard aims to develop best practices for creating positive impacts on biodiversity, notably by diversifying tree communities and integrating native species into project design. In the long term, The Global Biodiversity Standard hopes to place biodiversity at the heart of all initiatives that help combat climate change and develop the livelihoods of local communities.
 
### Towards the certification of projects based on the restoration and protection of biodiversity

Based on an international scientific and technical network that includes IUCN & Botanic Garden Conservation International, CIFOR-ICRAF, Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew), Society for Ecological Restoration and Reforest'Action, The Global Biodiversity Standard is currently testing its certification method in real-life conditions, in collaboration with botanical gardens in India, Kenya, Peru, Brazil, Madagascar, Uganda, Malaysia, Jordan and Hong Kong. 

Projects submitted for The Global Biodiversity Standard certification will be assessed against criteria derived from the “10 Golden Rules for Reforestation”. This scientific paper, promulgated by Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew) and Botanic Garden Conservation International, provides guidance on how to ensure that reforestation projects promote biodiversity restoration, carbon sequestration and the creation of socio-economic benefits for local communities. 

Projects certified by The Global Biodiversity Standard must:
- Select appropriate sites to enhance native biodiversity.
- Enhance protection of existing habitats and biodiversity.
- Protect, restore and manage biodiversity in consultation and partnership with local communities and other stakeholders.
- Aim to maximise biodiversity recovery through ecosystem restoration.
- Avoid and reduce invasive or potentially invasive species.
- Prioritise the use of native, threatened and rare species.
- Promote biodiversity and adaptive capacity.
- Implement robust monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management of biodiversity.
 
 ![Global-Biodiversity-Standard-2.jpg](/uploads/Global_Biodiversity_Standard_2_0ed75a2841.jpg)
 
## Reforest'Action's role in The Global Biodiversity Standard
 
### The contribution to remote sensing of forest biodiversity assessment

As part of The Global Biodiversity Standard's technical and scientific network, Reforest'Action brings its expertise in forest ecosystem restoration and impact measurement to the development of remote sensing monitoring tools. Reforest'Action offers The Global Biodiversity Standard a catalog of tools dedicated to remote sensing measurements. These measurements are carried out both upstream of project implementation, and downstream, as part of project monitoring. 

While tree species diversity has traditionally been assessed through field studies using samples from selected plots, this process is time-consuming and costly for large-scale analysis. Today, remote sensing provides new ways of monitoring vegetation biodiversity, offering the possibility of generating data sets to track environmental changes over the long term. This remote monitoring makes it possible to detect changes taking place within the forest cover, and thus to refine field sampling, in order to prioritize studies within areas that appear to be experiencing more or less positive evolution than others. As a complement to remote sensing, field monitoring remains essential for its accuracy, its ability to validate remote monitoring data and to calibrate the latter by providing real data to refine analyses.
 
### A tool for mapping tree species diversity in canopies

Among the catalog of tools offered by Reforest'Action to The Global Biodiversity Standard, Reforest'Action's Impact Department is collaborating directly with the standard to develop a tool dedicated to mapping the diversity of tree species within canopies. Based on a concept developed by J.-B. Féret and G. P. Asner (2014) and powered by images from Sentinel-2, a satellite in the European Space Agency's Copernicus program, the methodology and tool, re-appropriated by Reforest'Action, enables analysis of the spatial distribution of spectral species, those vegetation zones that include one or more plant species with a similar spectral signature. 

In other words, the tool can be used to assess the diversity of species within a given plot by grouping them into categories known as “spectral species”, based on their physical and biochemical properties (physiological state, water and pigment content, etc.). “Initially, we were looking for a way to measure spatial (within a project area) and temporal (over time) changes in forest stand diversity using remote sensing, in order to better guide sampling during field surveys,” explains Richard Sourbès, Reforest'Action's impact manager. “Based on the method developed by J.-B. Féret and G. P. Asner, we have developed our own tool with innovations that enable us to further refine our remote and field monitoring. While this tool has been used so far mainly in the field of research, Reforest'Action is now applying it for the first time to the operational monitoring of forest restoration projects. This innovative approach is in line with the more general use of remote sensing in the development of our forestry projects - from the design phase through to monitoring.”
 
### A field mission led by Reforest'Action to refine the tool and methodology

During a mission carried out in February 2024 as part of an international workshop organized by The Global Biodiversity Standard, a team from Reforest'Action's Impact Unit travelled to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to compare estimated remote sensing data with data collected in the field, particularly in terms of tree species diversity in the canopy. “The aim of this mission was to compare the estimate given by satellite imagery with observation in the field, in order to verify their correlation and refine our methodology and tool”, continues Richard Sourbès. “In concrete terms, our experiments in some twenty forest and agroforestry plots demonstrated a strong relationship between the distribution of spectral tree species and that of tree species actually observed in the field.” 

This field mission showed encouraging results in terms of the relevance of monitoring spectral species as a proxy for plant diversity in the canopy. The increasing number of projects monitored using this method will enable us to improve its accuracy in the future, by adapting it to the different stages of maturity and types of forest studied by Reforest'Action. 

Ultimately, this tool should enable us to better control the evolution of our remote sensing projects, so as to optimize our field monitoring missions. It also aims to provide a better understanding of the factors influencing plant diversity and its evolution over time, so as to be able to propose corrective measures as soon as a negative evolution is detected (for example, the presence of an invasive species). Ultimately, this tool will strengthen the adaptive management of our projects and ensure the long-term survival of forest ecosystems.  

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_To find out more about the spectral species method developed by Reforest'Action, read our dedicated article: “[Spectral species: an innovative method for studying plant biodiversity from space](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/spectral-species-monitoring-plant-biodiversity-from-space)”._


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Monitoring biodiversity to better preserve it: Reforest'Action's expertise at the service of The Global Biodiversity Standard

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Leader français du marché du compactage rotatif depuis 20 ans, ALTERVAL équipe de nombreux clients en matériels dédiés à optimiser le tri sélectif des déchets. Concepteur et fabricant, ALTERVAL porte une attention particulière à l’innovation pour lutter contre le gaspillage et veiller au bien-être des utilisateurs. Nos techniques de valorisation, pouvant diviser jusqu’à 15 fois les coûts de gestion des déchets, sont conçues dans une approche durable pour faire rimer écologie avec économie.

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2016-2017_Moustey et Argelouse (40)_(40)_France

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Photo de la parcelle un an après la plantation

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Photo d'évolution de la plantation en 2020

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Chêne vert

Pin maritime

Bouleau commun

GOOD_HEALTH_AND_WELL_BEING

CLEAN_WATER_AND_SANITATION

DECENT_WORK_AND_ECONOMIC_GROWTH

CLIMATE_ACTION

LIFE_ON_LAND

PARTNERSHIP_FOR_THE_GOALS

Preservation of local biodiversity by providing suitable habitats and resources.

Supports human well-being, by providing resources, income, education, and supporting recreation and heritage.

Contributes to the mitigation of the greenhouse effect and influences precipitation patterns and the local microclimate.

Influences the quality and integrity of the soil-water system, and the cycling of water and nutrients.

The Landes forest was hard hit by storm Klaus in 2009, which felled 60% of the region's trees. Today, 30% of the area is still damaged and needs to be planted.
This project will restore a damaged forest by planting 3 species of trees adapted to the region's climate and soils. The restored stand will ultimately be more resistant to insect attacks and climatic hazards. The trees will be able to support biodiversity and help combat global warming by storing carbon.

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The Landes is the second largest département in mainland France, with 67% of its land area covered by forest (the largest in the country). The main species is maritime pine, which we are also planting on this project. It is not the only species in the region, but it is a major pillar of the Aquitaine economy, generating over 33,000 jobs and accounting for around €2.6 billion in sales.

  
The young plants that will be planted will experience mild winters and hot, dry summers. The region is oceanic, meaning that the winds come from both the north-west and the south-west. These sometimes violent winds can be devastating, with major storms such as Klaus in 2009 reaching speeds of over 170 km/h.

  
With nearly a million hectares of planted forest, the Landes forest is the largest artificial forest in Europe.

This planting project is being carried out on 4 plots located in different communes (Lugos, Luxey, Sanguinet and Saugnacq-et-Muret). The largest of the 4 plots is in Lugos on the Landes. The total represents almost 100 hectares, which were destroyed by storm Klauss in 2009. By reforesting these areas, the owners hope to restore an ecosystem that has been devastated and abandoned. The soil consists mainly of sand, which tends to absorb rainwater quickly and is not very rich. This planting project will help to restore an ecosystem devastated by the storm, maintain the area's ecosystem and its biodiversity, keep the forest cover in place and combat global warming.

2021-2022_Lamas_Pérou

Production of plants to be placed in the nursery

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A man watering the tree shoots in the nursery

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A project beneficiary with a planted tree on abandoned agricultural plots

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Transplanting of plants in nursery by the CIGDES

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A project beneficiary with a young Majambo tree on agroforestry plots

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Food inga

Hévéa

Cacaoyer bicolore

Tamarin bâtard

Brosimum alicastrum

Reforest'Action is partnering with CIGDES to support small landowners in implementing agroforestry systems in response to severe land degradation in the provinces of Lamas, San Martin and El Dorado in Peru.

NO_POVERTY

ZERO_HUNGER

REDUCED_INEQUALITIES

SUSTAINABLE_CITIES_AND_COMMUNITIES

RESPONSIBLE_CONSUMPTION_AND_PRODUCTION

Supports human well-being, by providing resources, income, education, empowerment, and supporting culture and spirituality.

Plot farming in Peru represents the first cause of deforestation, being practiced both by small family farmers and by national and international agribusinesses. Northwest of the country, in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, most of the land of the Lamas, San Martín and El Dorado provinces have been converted into crops and pastures, at the cost of the primary forest that used to take root in the area. Local farmers have been abandoning their plots of land whose overexploited soil had lost fertility. The abandoned farmlands are now largely covered by an invasive fern species. These degraded areas are also particularly prone to fires, which are very common in the Amazon during the summer. Like a vicious circle, these phenomena worsen the degradation of the already weakened soils and decrease water resources.

The Center for Innovation and Sustainable Management (CIGDES) is a Peruvian NGO founded in 2020\. On the spot, the organization favors the development of agroforestry projects based on the introduction of non-timber and fruit indigenous tree species. Since its creation, the CIGDES has managed to plant over 10 million trees. The NGO works hand in hand with several national and international actors involved in the restoration of forests and the implementation of agroforestry systems such as the US AID.

Reforest'Action is partnering with the CIGDES to support small landowners in implementing agroforestry systems. The project, led by the Centro De Innovación Y Gestión Para El Desarrollo Sostenible (CIGDES) in the field, is being carried out simultaneously in three Peruvian provinces: Lamas, San Martín and El Dorado. Started in 2021, it will last for three years. The work involves installing agroforestry systems on abandoned agricultural plots, alongside producers and indigenous communities. The development of agroforestry will result in the restoration of former forests, including soil conditions, while generating additional socio-economic benefits. The Kichwas are an ancestral ethnic group of the Andes found in Peru. Direct descendants of the Inca civilization, their society is essentially based on agriculture and livestock. That's why the trees planted in agroforestry within the framework of the project will participate in the economic development of these Amazon people.

Bénéfices estimés des arbres plantés ou préservés

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Actualités de Reforest'Action

Greece: an experimental project to safeguard a centuries-old chestnut grove

Projects monitoring in Europe: a rigorous process for assessing the health of restored ecosystems

Monitoring biodiversity to better preserve it: Reforest'Action's expertise at the service of The Global Biodiversity Standard