**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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2019-2020_Kindia_Guinée

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Acacia mangium

Palétuvier rouge

Oranger

Anacardier

Avocatier

Gmelina arborea

In this sensitive environmental context, Reforest’Action works in partnership with a Guinean NGO, RENASCEDD (National Network of Civil Society for Environment and Sustainable Development), to plant around 125 000 trees in the Boffa prefecture, a hundred kilometres north of Conakry.

The project helps restore degraded forests around the associated villages and develop agroforestry. Thanks to the mangroves or forest-gardens, the forest ecosystems thus recreated will offer a multitude of priceless services for the climate, nature and local populations.

NO_POVERTY

ZERO_HUNGER

AFFORDABLE_AND_CLEAN_ENERGY

DECENT_WORK_AND_ECONOMIC_GROWTH

SUSTAINABLE_CITIES_AND_COMMUNITIES

CLIMATE_ACTION

LIFE_BELOW_WATER

LIFE_ON_LAND

PARTNERSHIP_FOR_THE_GOALS

Preservation of local biodiversity by providing suitable habitats and resources.

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

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

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

Guinea Conakry is experiencing increasing degradation of its environment and forests, posing a threat to present and future generations. Traditional agriculture, artisanal salt extraction, fish smoking, mining and the population explosion are the main causes of deforestation in rural areas. Guinea's coastal areas have also suffered greatly from mangrove deforestation, with direct consequences for the living conditions of local populations.

RENASCEDD (Réseau National de la Société Civile pour l'Environnement et le Développement Durable - National Civil Society Network for the Environment and Sustainable Development) is an NGO created in 2016 by Sekou Amadou Diakité, headquartered in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. A non-political, non-profit organization, the network brings together non-state actors working in the environmental field. It is made up of young people committed to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development. RENASCEDD collaborates with various development partners, such as the UNDP (United Nations Development Program), the GEF (European Globalisation Adjustment Fund), Guinean administrative authorities and local elected representatives. Thanks to funding from Reforest'Action, RENASCEDD is able to deploy reforestation projects in Guinea alongside local communities.

In Guinea, the reforestation project aims to create garden forests to enable local people to harvest fruit and diversify their sources of income through agroforestry. It also aims to plant mangroves to restore coastlines and combat rising sea levels. 
In a sensitive environmental context, marked by increasing deforestation, Reforest'Action has joined forces with a Guinean NGO, RENASCEDD (Réseau National de la Société Civile pour l'Environnement et le Développement Durable - National Civil Society Network for the Environment and Sustainable Development), to plant trees.

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Croton megalocarpus

Podocarpus falcatus

Cèdre rose

Tomate en arbre

Vitex keniensis

Prunier d'Afrique

Chêne soyeux

Waterberry

Calliandra calothyrsus

Markhamia

- Restauration d'une zone patrimoniale - Valorisation de terres à faible valeur ajoutée. - Génération de sources de revenus - Amélioration de la nutrition des familles. - Sensibilisation auprès des écoles du secteur - Formation des agriculteurs locaux aux méthodes de suivi et d'entretien de leurs plantations - Formation des femmes et de responsables locaux aux techniques de mise en pépinière

GOOD_HEALTH_AND_WELL_BEING

QUALITY_EDUCATION

REDUCED_INEQUALITIES

RESPONSIBLE_CONSUMPTION_AND_PRODUCTION

As a result of population growth, crop expansion, and deforestation to produce charcoal, Kenya has just 7% forest cover, compared with 18% in the early 1960s. Massive deforestation has a major impact on local populations: over 300,000 members of various ethnic groups, such as the Kikuyu and Maasai, depend on Mount Kenya's forests and its resources, such as fruit, medicinal plants, and water, for their daily livelihoods. In recent years, droughts have become more frequent, partly as a result of deforestation in the region. In this rapidly changing socio-climatic context, the project led by the local association Trees for Kenya focuses on restoring Mount Kenya's natural ecosystem and improving the food security of the people who live in this area.

The Mount Kenya forest underwent massive deforestation between the 1960s and the 1990s. That's why the Kenyan government is now encouraging NGOs and local communities to restore the forest by planting indigenous trees. The NGO Trees For Kenya has been working in the Mount Kenya region since 2012, in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service, which is in charge of protecting the country's natural forests. Since then, Trees For Kenya has planted over 350,000 trees, sourced from local nurseries, within the Mount Kenya forest. 

In the heart of the protected forest of Mount Kenya, Maison Hennessy, Reforest'Action and their local partner Trees for Kenya have joined forces to finance and implement a reforestation project with a triple goal. In the highlands, the project is helping to restore the forest of Mount Kenya National Park, which is essential to the proper functioning of the water cycle. Downstream, in the middle and lowlands cultivated with tea and coffee plantations, the creation of agroforestry garden forests aims to support the socio-economic development of farming communities. In addition to forestry work, the project also raises awareness among farming communities about the many benefits of planting trees on their land. Thirdly, by distributing trees to schools in the area, the project includes an educational dimension designed to involve the younger generation. 

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Fausse tonka

Bois de Courbaril

Acajou du Honduras

Corossol épineux

Hévéa

Genipe

Savonnier américain

Cariniana estrellensis

Cacaoyer

Palmier açaï

Rocouyer

Cupuaçu

Cedrela fissilis

Noix du Brésil

Bactris gasipaes

Carapa de Guyane

Mauritia flexuosa

Schizolobium amazonicum

Sterculia striata

Enterolobium schomburgkii

Reforest'Action is partnering with Rioterra, to implement a reforestation project in the State of Rondônia, in the southwest of the Brazilian Amazon. This state is part of the “deforestation arc” formed by vast territories where the agricultural frontier and deforestation have greatly increased in recent decades. The aim of this project is to restaure forest reserves by the creation of fruit forests. The project also aims to carry out environmental awareness and education programs among local and traditional populations

The Amazon rainforest, one of the world's three largest primary rainforests, is also one of the hardest hit by deforestation, with 400 million trees disappearing every year. The main cause is industrial agriculture, which accounts for two-thirds of deforestation in South America. Brazil, the world's largest soya producer, has converted 18% of its forest ecosystems since 1970 to cattle breeding and soya crops, through clear-cutting and burning. Our reforestation project, driven on the ground by our partner Rioterra, is located in the State of Rondônia, in the southwest of the Brazilian Amazon, which is part of the “deforestation arc” formed by vast territories where the agricultural frontier and deforestation have greatly increased in recent decades.

The Center for Cultural and Environmental Studies of the Amazon Region Rioterra is an NGO founded in 1999, whose aim is to propose a development model for the Amazon region which combines conservation, sustainability and improved quality of life for local populations. Their mission: to defend the identity of the Amazon rainforest, promote culture and the sustainable use of the environment, and contribute to a fair, democratic and participatory society. Rioterra coordinates the implementation of our project in the field and monitors the planted trees through visits by their experts and drone images. A technical representative from the NGO visits the site once a month for the first six months, and every three months thereafter, to ensure that the trees are growing well, and that the planted forests are sustainable.

Reforest'Action is partnering with Rioterra, to implement a reforestation project in the State of Rondônia, the fourth most deforested region in the Amazon. Spread over three years, the project aims to recover the original Amazonian Forest landscape and to promote the preservation of the Amazonian biodiversity, in addition to generating income for the neighboring population that fully participates in the project. Between 2019 and 2020, the aim of the project's first year of implementation is to reduce deforestation through agroforestry. Working with communities, the NGO Rioterra succeeded in convincing native farmers and families of the need to integrate diverse forest and fruit species into their farmland. 

This reforestation initiative is intended to support the essential efforts to reduce deforestation, to which every state, organization and citizen must contribute, in particular by taking action against imported deforestation.

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Audit mission from Reforest'Action, October 2022.

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Palétuvier gris

Palétuvier femmelle

Palétuvier

Reforest’action is collaborating with Yakopi (Yayasan Konservasi Pesisir Indonesia) to restore mangrove forests in areas with previous degradation and deforestation, by involving community participation in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces, Indonesia. This project is designed to restore damaged mangrove ecosystems where the mangrove restoration program is beneficial for carbon stocks, improves water quality, wildlife habitat, and extraordinary climate resilience, and contributes to sustainable local economic and social development. This project will also support the economies of coastal communities that depend on fishing. Indeed, mangrove forests have an ecological function as a habitat for marine life.

GENDER_EQUALITY

Indonesia is the country most affected by deforestation in the world, with its forest disappearing twice as fast as in the Amazon. Mangroves, in particular, are the forest ecosystem that is disappearing at the most alarming rate. While North Sumatra province had 200,000 hectares of mangroves in 1987, less than half of this remains today with only 83,000 hectares. In Aceh province, the mangroves were also severely degraded by the 2004 tsunami. Land use change and forest degradation are the main causes of mangrove loss in Sumatra, which tends to be replaced by oil palm monocultures or intensive aquaculture ponds, when it is not illegally cut for charcoal production.

The NGO Yayasan Konservasi Pesisir Indonesia (Yakopi) was founded in 2019 to accompany local people and young foresters in the creation and conservation of mangrove ecosystems. The NGO is composed of members of recognized institutions, professors and experienced executives, who assist the beneficiaries in developing a green economy. Reforest'Action has been funding the Yakopi project since 2021 and is contributing to its development across North Sumatra.

Reforest'Action is partnering with the NGO Yakopi to restore the mangroves of North Sumatra and enable them to once again realise their wide range of environmental and socio-economic benefits. The project's mangrove restoration activities are closely linked to the socio-economic activities of the people and enable them to achieve sustainability in terms of resource renewal and livelihoods. Through the mobilisation of the populations, the project aims to ensure the sustainability of the restored mangrove ecosystems.

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Cassia du Siam

Mouroungue

Rhizophora sp.

Papayer

Flamboyant

Albizia lebbeck

Pois d'Angola

Eucalyptus sp.

Citronnier

Rônier

On site, Reforest'Action and the Senegalese association Nebeday are initiating a vast project of reforestation, mangrove planting and environmental education for schoolchildren. This approach will contribute to the restoration of forest ecosystems and the preservation of natural resources that are essential to the economic and social development of populations. 

This project combines several tree species: palm trees planted in the Sangako forest, mangrove trees to restore maritime ecosystems as well as a variety of fruit and leguminous species that will be planted in school yards. It will contribute to the restoration of the forest cover, slowing down the degradation of ecosystems and supporting an environmental education program.

In Senegal, the forests are suffering the consequences of the country's demographic growth and economic development. Charcoal production, illegal wood trafficking and livestock farming are at the origin of the disappearance of the forest cover, accentuated by the multiplication of bush fires. In 60 years, Senegal has lost half of its forest area. The mangrove, an ecosystem essential to many marine and terrestrial species, is also threatened.

Reforest'Action and the Senegalese association Nebeday are working together on a vast reforestation and mangrove restoration project. In the background, a large-scale environmental education project is being set up to raise awareness of environmental issues among schoolchildren. The approach will give birth to a generation of eco-citizens committed to the forest and the environment. 

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Hêtre commun

Chêne pédonculé

Châtaignier

Chêne chevelu

Chêne sessile (rouvre)

Ce projet de régénération naturelle situé en Toscane consiste à la diversification et à la mise en place du gestion plus durable de la forêt. En effet cette forêt est principalement peuplée de taillis de Hêtre qui sont gérés depuis des décénies en rotation de 9 ans afin de produire du bois de chauffage. Ce modèle de gestion n'est pas favorable au stockage du carbone ainsi qu'à la biodiversité. L'idée est ici de progressivement transformer le taillis en une belle futaie de Hêtre accompagnée de tout un cortège d'essences en sous-étage. Cela favorisera la richesse et la résilience de l'écosystème forestier et stockera du carbone à beaucoup plus long terme.

CLEAN_WATER_AND_SANITATION

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

This forest is located in the heart of the National Forest Park of Casentinesi known for the great diversity of its mountain and low mountain vegetation. The owner is gradually changing the management of his forest, which only produces dense coppice on stumps. He is transforming this site into a more diverse, layered and therefore more sustainable forest.

This natural regeneration project located in Tuscany consists in diversifying and implementing a more sustainable management of the forest. Mainly populated by Beech coppice, this forest has been managed for decades in a 9-year rotation in order to produce firewood. But this management model is not conducive to carbon storage and biodiversity. 
The idea here is to progressively transform the coppice into a beautiful beech forest with a variety of understory species. This will promote the richness and resilience of the forest ecosystem and store carbon over the much longer term.

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