**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.  

![Global-Biodiversity-Standard-4.jpg](/uploads/Global_Biodiversity_Standard_4_e23d45b127.jpg)

_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

**To improve the monitoring of forest restoration projects, remote sensing can provide complementary indicators and support field surveys. By making it possible to monitor canopy diversity, the spatial distribution of plant species and forest evolution over time, the spectral species method and its associated tools developed by Reforest'Action are invaluable in forest management and restoration projects. They aim to enable forest managers to evolve their practices in order to optimize species diversity, as well as the stability and resilience of the forest ecosystem as a whole.** 

![Spectral-Species-canopy.jpg](/uploads/Spectral_Species_canopy_39e93e4b05.jpg)
 
## Remote sensing applied to the monitoring of vegetation
 
### Analyzing terrestrial ecosystems from space

Space-based remote sensing enables us to observe terrestrial environments using remote data acquisition methods based on the properties of electromagnetic radiation. Satellite sensors can measure the amount of energy (reflectance) reflected or emitted by a surface as a function of the wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum, and analyze and monitor changes in the surface over time. The total reflectance recorded in each spectral band (blue, green, red, infrared, etc.) forms the object's “spectral signature”. Each surface thus has its own spectral signature, enabling it to be identified on satellite images.
 
### Defining the spectral signature of plant species

Remote sensing makes it possible to establish the spectral signature of plants by analyzing their optical properties in the visible, near-infrared and mid-infrared ranges. These properties depend in particular on the vegetation's cellular structure, as well as its water and pigment content. 
- **Cell structure.** The anatomical structure of leaves plays a significant role in the spectral signature of vegetation at longer wavelengths. Near-infrared radiation passes through the leaf to the cell layer, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. In this layer, near-infrared radiation is strongly reflected. It therefore depends directly on leaf anatomy. 
- **Water content.** Leaf water content is also a factor influencing vegetation's spectral signature in the mid-infrared wavelengths. The higher the water content, the lower the reflectance of vegetation. In remote sensing, this wavelength range is used to identify water-stressed vegetation cover.
- **Leaf pigment content.** All plants contain green pigments (chlorophyll), orange pigments (carotenes) and blue-red pigments (anthocyanins). The presence of these leaf pigments (particularly chlorophyll, which is the most abundant) in plants is responsible for their high absorption of visible radiation.

These three elements vary according to season, plant species and life cycle. In other words, the spectral signature of vegetation is not constant. It reflects differences in the structure and characteristics of plant cover. 
 
![Spectral-species-canopy-from-ground.jpg](/uploads/Spectral_species_canopy_from_ground_72dbe3beac.jpg)

## The spectral species method

### From spectral signatures to spectral species: identifying the spatial distribution of plant species

At the scale of a forest plot, remote sensing can identify different spectral signatures, which can be distinguished and attributed to distinct plant species, grouped under categories known as “spectral species”. 

“Through opensource platforms, we have access to Copernicus satellite data, which is revisited every five days or so. We can download the current satellite view of a plot within one of our projects by entering its GPS coordinates,” explains Richard Sourbès, Impact Officer for Reforest'Action. “We then process this data using the Python programming language. On the satellite view, each pixel represents a surface that emits energy in 12 spectral bands. These reflectances in each spectral band are recovered by our software. They make up the spectral signature of the forest surface analyzed. We then try to classify each pixel into groups called spectral species according to the similarity of their signatures, and we thus obtain an estimate of the number of different species present in the canopy.”

This method provides a map of the spatial distribution of spectral species observed in the forest. The map takes the form of a satellite view of the plot, with each pixel color corresponding to a spectral species. 

![Spectral-species-map.jpg](/uploads/Spectral_species_map_ae538870db.jpg)
 
### From the spatial distribution of species to an index of their diversity: monitoring plant biodiversity

This first tool can then be used to calculate diversity indices, in particular the Shannon index. The Shannon index is the most commonly used diversity index in ecology. It is used to calculate species richness and distribution within a forest. In other words, the more numerous and evenly distributed the plant species, the higher the index. 

Reforest'Action uses the Shannon index to determine the specific diversity of spectral species, which is an indicator of the biological (taxonomic) diversity of canopy species. This plant diversity is represented in the form of a heat map, which locates, in warm color, spots of high plant diversity, and in cold color, spots of low plant diversity. It is then possible to follow the evolution of this biodiversity throughout the forest's growth. 

“In concrete terms, the forest stand is re-divided into cells of around 1000 m2, in which the abundance of each of the spectral species present is calculated”, explains Richard Sourbès. “In other words, the Shannon index is calculated by a simple change of scale: going from a 10x10 m pixel to a 33x33 m pixel, we obtain zones containing a greater or lesser diversity of spectral species, enabling us to identify the most diverse areas of the plot studied. Within a cell, the more numerous and evenly distributed the spectral species, the higher the Shannon index.  Conversely, a cell containing a single spectral species will have a Shannon index equal to zero, representing zero species diversity.” 

This mapping is particularly important: it enables field monitoring missions to be steered more effectively, in particular by targeting sampling zones adapted to the results of remote monitoring, and by enabling more precise management recommendations to be formulated. The tool also complements field surveys, which cannot be carried out on all forest stands, as they sometimes extend over dozens or even hundreds of hectares.

![Shannon-Index-Map.jpg](/uploads/Shannon_Index_Map_4dc16676fd.jpg)
 
## Valuable tools for monitoring restoration projects

By making it possible to monitor canopy diversity, the spatial distribution of plant species and forest evolution over time, the spectral species method and its associated tools (spectral species map, Shannon index) are invaluable in forest management and restoration projects. 

Because the data obtained is geo-referenced, it is particularly effective for locating potential invasive species that could threaten the stability of the forest ecosystem, or a lack of species diversity at stand level. They can be used to provide an initial diagnosis of canopy plant biodiversity on a forest scale, to better understand the ecological and environmental factors that favor or hinder plant biodiversity, to establish good practices that lead to high diversity, or to take corrective measures in the opposite case.  

Forest managers can use this data to develop their management practices to optimize species diversity, as well as the stability and resilience of the forest ecosystem as a whole. 

In the medium term, the aim is to be able to calculate the Shannon index for all our projects, in order to monitor the diversity of species represented on the forest plots that have been restored. This index will enable us to measure the impact generated by our projects in terms of plant biodiversity restoration, and will join a range of impact measurement tools currently being developed by Reforest'Action's Innovation & Impact Department.

![Spectral-Species-field-data.jpg](/uploads/Spectral_Species_field_data_23a1e9b997.jpg)

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Spectral species: an innovative method for monitoring plant biodiversity from space

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For more than 250 years, Maison Hennessy has crafted exceptional cognacs in the heart of its native region of Charente, France. Committed to protecting its natural environment and as the first spirits House to be certified ISO 14001 in 1998, Hennessy lets the excellence of its savoir-faire shine through in every bottle, in more than 160 countries.

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Discover our commitment to the earth and to the men and women of our company on the path to sustainable development for over 20 years. 

Our commitment

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Orme de Sibérie

Abricotier de Sibérie

Épicéa de Chine

Xanthocère à feuilles de sorbier

Pin sylvestre de mongolie

The afforestation project will expand the natural forest cover of the Greater Khingan mountain range. The plantation areas are former degraded agricultural plots, abandoned by local communities following soil impoverishment and rural migration.

NO_POVERTY

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Preservation of local biodiversity by providing suitable habitats and resources.

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.

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

In this region of Inner Mongolia, reforestation is needed to extend the forest cover of the Greater Khingan mountain range, which acts as a natural ecological barrier protecting the region from winds and sandstorms. 

The Nature Conservancy is a global, non-profit environmental organization dedicated to creating a world where people and nature can thrive. Founded in the United States in 1951, The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the world's most effective and far-reaching environmental organizations. Thanks to more than a million members, their teams and over 400 scientists, the NGO is now making an impact on nature conservation in 72 countries, including China. All reforestation projects implemented by The Nature Conservancy have been validated by CCB standards, which indicate that reforestation can bring multiple benefits to the climate, local communities and biodiversity.

Located in the north of China's Inner Mongolia region, this project led by Reforest'Action, Maison Hennessy and the international organization The Nature Conservancy aims to combat the desertification of the region's natural grasslands by restoring degraded pastures. In addition to environmental benefits, the project will generate additional income for local populations. 

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Douglas

Pin de Lambert

Pin ponderosa

Calocèdre

Dans l'Oregon, des centaines de feux de forêt se produisent chaque année, détruisant plusieurs millions d'hectares sur la côte ouest des États-Unis et mettant en danger la population. Reforest'Action travaille avec Arbor Day Foundation et le Comté de Joséphine pour reboiser ces grandes zones endommagées. Le bassin versant Pickett Creek - rivière Rogue, où se trouvent les parcelles, est répertorié comme étant une zone d'eaux dégradées en raison de l'absence de vie aquatique et de températures extrêmes dépassant les normes. L'objectif de ce projet est de reboiser ces zones fragiles afin de permettre le retour de la végétation et la création d'habitats pour la faune locale : oiseaux, rapaces, cerfs à queue noire, élans de Roosevelt et ours noirs. La plantation de différentes essences résineuses permettra la constitution de peuplements plus forts avec notamment des essences plus résistantes aux feux de forêt comme le pin ponderosa et le cèdre à encens.

CLEAN_WATER_AND_SANITATION

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

In Oregon, hundreds of forest fires occur every year, destroying several million hectares on the west coast of the United States and endangering the population. Reforest'Action is working with Arbor Day Foundation and Josephine County to reforest these large, damaged areas. The Pickett Creek - Rogue River watershed, where the plots are located, is listed as a degraded water area due to the absence of aquatic life and extreme temperatures exceeding norms. The aim of this project is to reforest these fragile areas, allowing vegetation to return and creating habitats for local wildlife: birds, raptors, black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk and black bears. The planting of a variety of resinous species, notably those more resistant to forest fires such as ponderosa pine and incense cedar, will help build stronger stands.

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Chêne soyeux

Calliandra calothyrsus

Markhamia

Vitex keniensis

Waterberry

Tomate en arbre

Podocarpus falcatus

Cèdre rose

Avocatier

Cassia du Siam

Croton megalocarpus

Le projet sera mis en œuvre dans le comté d'Embu au Kenya. Ce projet consistera à planter 250 000 arbres avec 300 agriculteurs de la communauté et dix écoles du comté d'Embu. Chaque agriculteur plantera entre 600 et 1200 arbres sur sa ferme. Les arbres aideront les fermiers à :- Revitaliser leurs terres épuisées - Fournir des feuilles de fourrage pour le bétail - Fournir des fruits pour la nutrition et la génération de revenus - Agir comme engrais vert pour leurs cultures vivrières - Protéger leurs cultures vivrières et commerciales des vents violents - Protéger leurs terres contre l'érosion des sols - Compenser les fruits du carbone

QUALITY_EDUCATION

SUSTAINABLE_CITIES_AND_COMMUNITIES

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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Chêne pédonculé

Cerisier de Sainte-Lucie

Cornouiller sanguin

Nerprun purgatif

Viorne Lantane

Cornouiller mâle

Ajonc d'Europe

Néflier

Noisetier commun

Érable champêtre

Érable de Montpellier

Aulne glutineux

Viorne obier

Troene commun

Charme commun

Saule Blanc

Frêne commun

Chêne sessile (rouvre)

Cormier

Merisier

Chêne vert

Alisier torminal

Bourdaine

Orme champêtre

Sureau noir

Chèvrefeuille des haies

Prunellier

Églantier

Fusain d'Europe

La ville de Cognac (Charente), accueille désormais une micro-forêt urbaine, sur une ancienne parcelle agricole, grâce à la technique Miyawaki. Inspirée du botaniste japonais Akira Miyawaki, cette méthode permet de faire rapidement pousser une forêt sauvage à partir d’un sol dégradé. L’introduction de diverses essences, dans le cadre d’une plantation dense, permet d’accélérer la croissance des forêts en milieu urbain. Ces 2 800 arbres comportent des essences très diversifiées. Leur présence encourage ainsi le développement d’une biodiversité riche et variée. Cette démarche favorisera également la présence de prédateurs qui s’attaqueront aux nuisibles, dont la présence menace les vignes environnantes. En plus de structurer le paysage, les arbres plantés filtreront l’eau et la pollution, tout en stockant du carbone, participant ainsi à la lutte contre le réchauffement climatique. A terme, les arbres plantés participeront à la formation d’un espace arboré résilient.

The town of Cognac (Charente) is now home to an urban micro-forest on a former agricultural plot, thanks to the Miyawaki technique. Inspired by the Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, this method enables the rapid growth of a wild forest from degraded soil. The introduction of a variety of tree species as part of a dense plantation accelerates the growth of urban forests. These 2,800 trees include a wide variety of species. Their presence encourages the development of a rich and varied biodiversity. This approach will also encourage the presence of predators that will attack pests, whose presence threatens the surrounding vineyards. In addition to structuring the landscape, the trees planted will filter water and pollution, while storing carbon, thereby helping to combat global warming. Ultimately, the trees planted will help create a resilient wooded area.

2021-2022_Analamanga_Madagascar

analamanga 5

analamanga 4

analamanga 3

analamanga 2

analamanga 

Pin d'Elliott

Pin des Philippines

Acacia crassicarpa

Bigaradier

Prunier d'Afrique

Goyavier

Liquidambar

Oranger

Reforest’Action is partnering with the local NGO 2400 Sourires and Siel Bleu, to plant various species in roder to revive the forests’ multifonctionality in the Anamalanga region. 60 000 Trees have been planted near water sources to help the forest resist heat waves and droughts. 
Locally, the associations will raise the population’s awareness on the necessity to adopt agricultural practices that are kinder to the environment: a School of the Forest will be implemented to support this transition and transmit agricultural management practices that positively impact the forest.

The island of Madagascar is known for its relief, its unique flora and fauna, but also its forests, which cover 20% of the territory and are true biodiversity hotspots. Unfortunately, in recent years, these forests have paid a heavy price as a result of human activity, particularly slash-and-burn agriculture. Today, deforestation is responsible for the destruction of the island's forest ecosystems, leading to soil erosion and a dramatic loss of biodiversity. To counter this phenomenon, preserve natural ecosystems and improve people's livelihoods, reforestation in Madagascar is a priority.

Founded in 1999 by Romain and Séverine Lagache, the 2400 Sourires association focuses on two major areas: protecting children and the environment. Faced with the disappearance of 85% of the country's wooded areas over the past 30 years, the NGO has been carrying out reforestation projects for several years. Through its partnership with Reforest'Action, it is raising awareness about deforestation issues, setting up tree nurseries and organizing reforestation actions on site. Groupe Associatif Siel Bleu (GASB) is a French association founded in 1997\. Since its creation, all its members have worked tirelessly in the field to help the most vulnerable populations. Every day, Siel Bleu contributes to improving their well-being and quality of life. In Madagascar, thanks to its partnership with Reforest'Action, the NGO is involved in environmental initiatives with multiple benefits for people's health. 

In the heart of the Madagascan forest, Maison Hennessy, Reforest'Action and local organizations 2400 Sourires and Siel bleu have joined forces to restore and preserve forests in the region of Analamanga, in the north of the island. The project aims, on the one hand, to restore forest cover through reforestation actions and, on the other hand, to train and raise awareness among local populations about the urgent need for forest restoration and the existence of direct environmental and socio-economic benefits. The project also includes the creation of a Forest School to reinforce the educational aspect of the project by accompanying and training young farmers in sustainable forest management methods.

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A woman making a hole in the ground to plant a tree

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Cyprès funèbre

Sapin chinois

Reforest’Action is partnering with the Chinese Guangxi Chongzuo Linda Forestry Company to plant more than one million trees over the next three years. The project unfolds on public plots that cover a total area of 600 hectares around Dongfanghong and Zhebu villages of Guizhou. Guizhou is located in the west of China, which is hilly, and most of the land is highland. To restore the land’s ecological properties as well as the biodiversity of the area, 1.62 million trees of 4 species native to the region are planted. The planted native species are well-adapted and can survive in this region. This project would enhance local economic opportunities, while concomitantly improving the local ecological environment. On the socioeconomic level, this approach will support the economic development of the rural populations living in the area.

INDUSTRY_INNOVATION_AND_INFRASTRUCTURE

Guizhou is Chinese for “precious land” and is located in western China. The region’s main source of revenue is its arable land. While Guizhou’s capital, Guiyang, is a modern metropolis, around half of the villages in the province still don’t have electricity or road links. In the 1960s, following Mao Zedong's "Great Leap Forward" stimulus plan, a wave of migration to the Guizhou province led to massive deforestation of the area to convert lands for intensive agriculture and mining. Since then, rapid economic development, population and agriculture growth have greatly degraded the soil. The preservation and restoration of forest ecosystems in China are now a top priority for the Chinese government, and Guizhou province is particularly targeted by a local strategy.

uangxi Chongzuo Linda Forestry Company is an environmental company created in 2015\. To date, it employs 500 people across the country and conducts projects that mainly concern southwest China. Its activity consists in implementing professional solutions and supporting good practices in forest management. For this purpose, it has received several awards from local political authorities, including the "Most Innovative Company" and the "Most Socially Responsible Company" awards.

Reforest’Action is partnering with the Chinese Guangxi Chongzuo Linda Forestry Company to create forests on the mountains of the "precious Land”. In western China, the Guizhou province is one of the poorest in the country. More than a quarter of its 40 million inhabitants live below the poverty line. 87% of Guizhou’s topography comprises rolling mountains, rich in natural resources. However, the region’s economic development is hindered by the fact that these highlands are hard to access and have little public transport. The project, which unfolds on public plots and cover a total area of 200 hectares in the vicinity of Guangzhao town, therefore aims to both regenerate the natural ecosystem and develop local economic opportunities. 

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Ce projet se déroule dans Oregon aux États Unis, il a subit l’incendie de Taylor Creek en 2018. L’objectif ici est de reconstituer certaines zones forestières anciennement très productives. La réhabilitation permettra de fournir un abri et une couverture thermique à de nombreuses espèces sauvages. De plus, la stabilisation du sol par le reboisement réduira l’érosion. D'autre part, ça permettra la création d'habitat pour la faune sauvage (rapaces, cerfs à queue noire, élans de Roosevelt et ours noirs). En outre, cela améliorera la qualité de l'eau particulièrement dégradée sur ce site. Enfin, les arbres plantés stockeront du carbone, participant ainsi à la lutte contre le dérèglement climatique. Ils assureront également une continuité forestière sur la zone et participeront à la formation d’un patrimoine forestier résilient.

Bénéfices estimés des arbres plantés ou préservés

Our commitment

Actualités de Reforest'Action

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

Spectral species: an innovative method for monitoring plant biodiversity from space