**In the heart of Mount Kenya National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, the third season of the project developed by Reforest'Action, and supported by Maison Hennessy for the past two years, was completed at the end of 2022. Hennessy has been a partner of Reforest'Action since 2020, funding numerous local initiatives over the long term. Through its multidimensional scope, this project aimed at restoring forest and agricultural ecosystems in Kenya is a concrete illustration of our shared regenerative, impact-oriented approach. Thanks to two waves of planting, in spring and autumn, the year 2022 made it possible to plant 250,000 trees on 500 hectares of land divided between the project's various activities.** 

![Kenya1.jpeg](/uploads/Kenya1_2dc4dd7b3e.jpeg)

In recent years, drought has hit East Africa particularly hard, including Kenya: rainfall has been below average for five consecutive rainy seasons. By January 2023, it was estimated that more than 20 million people were facing acute food insecurity in the region, mainly as a result of drought*. 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. 

*World Meteorological Organization (WMO), _State of the Global Climate report,_ 2022.

## The project's objectives: a three-fold approach

The plots targeted by the project's third season are located in three counties in eastern Kenya: Kirinyaga, Embu and Tharaka Nithi. The typology of ecosystems covered and the actions implemented vary according to altitude, rainfall regime and soil quality. In the highlands, the project is helping to restore the forest of [Mount Kenya National Park,](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/800/) 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. Let's take a look at the progress made by this multi-faceted project. 

![Kenya0 Project Map.jpg](/uploads/Kenya0_Project_Map_e3075b3aaf.jpg)

## Mount Kenya forest restoration: promoting the regeneration of a crucial ecosystem

The first part of the project involves reforesting 60 hectares of degraded forest land which, although protected, is unable to regenerate on its own. More than 300,000 people - including members of the Masai and Kikuyu ethnic groups - depend on the Mount Kenya forest for their daily livelihoods: it provides them with water, fruits, and medicinal plants. As a result of deforestation for agriculture and charcoal production, the drastic reduction in the region's forest cover has led to a change in local weather patterns, with rainfall becoming more irregular and scarcer, causing the rivers originating from Mount Kenya to dry up and no longer flow sufficiently to irrigate crops.

### Achievements: 65,000 trees planted in the Njukiini forest

In 2022, the project enabled the creation of three conservation sites in the Njukiini forest. The latter lies at the foot of Mount Kenya, between a dried-out wetland and a forest managed by the Kenya Forest Service for commercial purposes. The selected sites are made up of a few scattered trees and therefore have regeneration potential. Work began with the clearing of Lantana Camara, an invasive shrub species that was preventing native vegetation from developing and drawing on the water table, followed by the planting of a diverse range of native species, including Prunus Africana and Podocarpus. A total of 65,000 trees were planted, with the aim of restoring the degraded forest and initiating its future regeneration.  

The forestry work was carried out by the Community Conservation Association (CFA), a group of 50 casual workers from local communities, mostly young people and about half of them being women. More broadly, local people are involved in all restoration processes: they participate in the production of seedlings in twelve community nurseries set up as part of the project, as well as in soil preparation through the removal of brush and invasive species, and in the long-term maintenance of the planted trees. 

![Kenya3©TonyTei-2022.jpg](/uploads/Kenya3_Tony_Tei_2022_67e0e9487e.jpg)

![Kenya6©TonyTei-2022.jpg](/uploads/Kenya6_Tony_Tei_2022_b1e324f3e1.jpg)

![Kenya4©TonyTei-2022.jpg](/uploads/Kenya4_Tony_Tei_2022_7b0cc11880.jpg)
©TonyTei-2022

**At the end of 2022, Reforest'Action's field audit made it possible to assess the survival rate of the trees planted on the three conservation sites during the previous spring. Despite very limited water resources due to chronic drought, the shade provided by the existing trees and the high moisture level of the forest soil ensured the survival of 74% of the planted trees.**

### Expected impacts: increased water resources and biodiversity

The porosity created by the organic activity of the forest soil will reduce water runoff, encourage its infiltration into the soil and enable groundwater to be recharged. As a cornerstone of the water cycle, the forest will also help regulate the local climate, increasing the frequency of rainfall and, ultimately, the volume of water flowing into the surrounding rivers. In the long term, restored forests will therefore play an important role in the water resources available to the farming population. Let's not forget that 75%* of the world's fresh water for human and environmental needs comes from forest and mountain ecosystems. At the same time, biodiversity will increase as the forest grows, being home to elephants, monkeys, buffalo, and gazelles’ populations.

*FAO, IUFRO and USDA. 2022. _A guide to forest-water management. FAO Forestry Paper_ No. 185. Rome.

## Garden forests: improving food security among farming communities

The second part of the project aims to install agroforestry systems within the tea, coffee, macadamia, maize, bean, sweet potato and banana crops that cover the lower slopes of Mount Kenya. Most farmers in the region own one or two hectares of land at most, and use 75% of it for cash crop production. Almost all households keep livestock or goats on the remaining 25%, on which the family home is also located. While for 98% of them, agriculture is the sole source of income, local farmers are facing sharply reduced crop yields as a result of severe drought.

### Achievements: 165,000 trees planted on 434 farmers' land

In 2022, more than 430 new beneficiaries were given trees. They were recruited by a "leading farmers" team made up of local farmers who act as a link between Trees for Kenya's and the farming communities. Agroforestry species such as calliandra, markhamia and pink cedar were planted as hedges around the crops, meanwhile fruit trees were spread throughout the plots. Fruit trees are particularly valuable to farmers, as they will produce avocados, tree tomatoes, mangoes and oranges. Between January and December 2022, 165,000 trees were planted to create garden forests in the low and midlands of Mount Kenya.

Before each wave of planting, training and awareness-raising sessions were organized for farmers, including demonstrations of how to use the planting and monitoring equipment (spades, secateurs, tape and calipers to measure tree height and diameter, etc.). Beneficiaries were also trained in the manufacturing of plant-based organic fertilizers and pesticides, and made aware of the importance of conserving trees on their plots. 

![Kenya2.jpg](/uploads/Kenya2_1492d3fdbf.jpg)

![Kenya7©TonyTei-2022.jpg](/uploads/Kenya7_Tony_Tei_2022_6658bf7c68.jpg)
©TonyTei-2022

**The survival rate of trees planted in agroforestry in the spring of 2022 was evaluated at 65% by the end-of-year audit. The main challenge here relates to the lack of available water to irrigate the planted trees, causing them to dry out. It should be noted that trees affected by drought are systematically replaced during the next planting. A new field audit will be conducted by the beginning of 2024 in order to monitor the second wave of plantings that took place in autumn 2022.**  
 
During the audit, the testimonies of several beneficiaries were collected. All interviewees seemed now aware of the challenges raised by climate change and the importance of forest ecosystems. They thanked the support provided by the project, without which they would not have had the resources required to plant trees. Some of them revealed that the project not only helped them financially, but also socially, by enabling them to emerge from isolation.

### Expected impacts: strengthened food security for communities

The primary objective of agroforestry development on Mount Kenya is to protect and sustain the crops grown by local populations. Trees will provide shade for understorey plantations while acting as windbreaks, thus combating wind erosion. In addition, trees will have numerous benefits for degraded agricultural soils: they will promote nitrogen fixation and the restitution of organic matter through the creation of litter. It has been proven that farmers implementing agroforestry practices in East Africa have seen their yields increase by 100% compared to farmers using non-regenerative practices*. In the longer term, the return of rivers and rainfall, made possible by the restoration of Mount Kenya's forests, will facilitate crop irrigation and fertility.

From an economic point of view, the planted trees will be a source of fodder for livestock, of natural fertilizer for crops and of firewood for the local population. Through their sustainable management, they will thus prevent the harvesting of trees in the still intact primary forest. Furthermore, the fruit trees will help to boost the local population's livelihoods and to generate additional income through the sale of the fruits. Tea and coffee produced in shaded agroforestry systems, considered to be of better quality, will open the way to a new and more marketable value chain. Finally, awareness-raising sessions for farmers help prevent future deforestation while promoting the need to include and preserve trees as an integral component of their agriculture.

*Africa Regenerative Agriculture Study Group, _Regenerative Agriculture: An opportunity for businesses and society to restore degraded land in Africa,_ 2021.

![Kenya8©TonyTei-2022.jpg](/uploads/Kenya8_Tony_Tei_2022_89038ba919.jpg)
©TonyTei-2022

Through its [Destination Forêt program,](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/hennessy-forest-destination) Maison Hennessy is committed to promoting the regeneration of 50,000 hectares of forest in France and around the world by 2030, as a means of protecting biodiversity, enhancing the water cycle and responding to the climate emergency. This holistic project developed on the lands of Mount Kenya bears witness to the strong ambition shared by Reforest'Action and Hennessy: to preserve and restore forest ecosystems on a large scale.

large_Kenya5©TonyTei-2022.jpg

medium_Kenya5©TonyTei-2022.jpg

small_Kenya5©TonyTei-2022.jpg

thumbnail_Kenya5©TonyTei-2022.jpg

Kenya5©TonyTei-2022.jpg

Maison Hennessy's commitment to restoring the land of Mount Kenya: a multi-faceted project

**As an iconic House of the LVMH Group, Hennessy embodies a rich French heritage, exceptional know-how and a strong connection with nature. Considering the need for companies to take efficient action in the short term, the cognac brand is making a significant commitment by investing in projects that have a positive impact on the environment. Since 2020, through its “Forest Destination” program, Hennessy has been contributing to the regeneration of forest ecosystems on behalf of future generations.**

Alongside its contribution program for regenerative projects, developed with the support of Reforest'Action, Maison Hennessy is piloting a carbon emissions reduction strategy of up to 50% by 2030*: decarbonization of its activities, energy sobriety and efficiency, minimization of transportation impacts, eco-design... A two-pronged approach which is now essential in order to meet the challenges of the climate emergency.

*on a 2019 basis

![Forêt tempérée.jpg](/uploads/Foret_temperee_c4d2987f72.jpg)

## Forests at the core of Hennessy's commitments

Since 2020, Reforest'Action has been pleased to support Maison Hennessy in the development of its [Forest Destination program,](https://www.hennessy.com/fr-fr/stories/la-maison-hennessy-engagee-pour-les-forets) which aims to restore 50,000 hectares of forest ecosystems worldwide by 2030. The collaboration between Maison Hennessy and Reforest'Action, a major player in ecosystem restoration, is based on a shared ambition to act on a large scale. This joint approach focuses on generating positive impacts: for 30 years, all projects financed through this program will be subject to long-term environmental and social impact monitoring.

### The embodiment of Maison Hennessy's ambitions

Hennessy's identity is illustrated by its commitment to the Earth and its people. Aware of its responsibility as a global economic player, the 250-year-old brand is stepping up its efforts and setting ambitious targets: to contribute to the regeneration of forest ecosystems and the preservation of human well-being. 

"Maison Hennessy has always embraced a long-term view. It has been able to see well ahead into the future. Today, the survival of humanity depends heavily on our ability to meet the colossal challenge of preserving and restoring forest ecosystems. This is a task that goes beyond individual interests. With “Forest Destination”, we want to act, to participate in a collective movement and to make a concrete contribution to the common good," emphasizes Laurent Boillot, President of Maison Hennessy. The idea of its partnership with Reforest'Action is not only to make decisions today, but above all to prepare for tomorrow.  
 
### Maison Hennessy's dedication to forests

A special bond unites Maison Hennessy to the forest. Indeed, the encounter between the oak wood barrels and the spirits enables Hennessy cognac to develop its aromas and acquire its woody color. But the company's commitment to preserving forest ecosystems also comes from the understanding of its own forests. In fact, since the 1970s, Hennessy has cultivated the sense of a sustainable and balanced forest management in its French forest estate. 

For Hennessy, the fundamental role of forest ecosystems no longer needs to be proven, which is why forests are at the heart of its strategy to restore the Living World. Hennessy therefore seeks to promote and support the various ecosystem services provided by forests around the world, for the benefit of all peoples: mitigating climate change, improving soil quality and fertility, hosting biodiversity, regulating the water cycle, producing resources for local communities, and so on.

## Multiple-impact projects developed with Reforest'Action

As Reforest'Action's main contributor since 2020, Hennessy takes part in forest ecosystem regeneration wherever forests are a crucial issue, and thus supports communities whose life depend on them: in France, but also in Africa (Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Madagascar), China and the United States. Reforest'Action's expertise in designing projects adapted to each context guarantees the sustainability of the restoration actions undertaken by Hennessy. Over the 2021-2022 period, thanks to the partnership between Maison Hennessy and Reforest'Action alone, more than 3.5 million trees from 121 different species have been planted in 8 countries. The total surface area concerned by the projects and their impacts, both current and future, is about 15,000 hectares.

### In France

Under its Forest Destination program, Hennessy also called on Reforest'Action to carry out projects in France, as close as possible to its headquarters in Cognac. Micro-forests* have been created in Pont-Neuf, Pré-Dinât and Juillac-Le-Coq, thereby enabling Hennessy's employees to enjoy the benefits. The aim of this local approach for the company is to act at the root of its activities and involve its stakeholders in the reconstitution of biodiversity reservoirs and ecological corridors, which have too often disappeared from the French landscape.

*A micro-forest or Miyawaki forest consists of planting native tree and shrub species in a very dense pattern over a small area.

![Foret urbaine Juillac le coq.JPG](/uploads/Foret_urbaine_Juillac_le_coq_55f123606e.JPG)
_Bramble sawfly, Juillac-le-Coq_

### Protecting water resources in Kenya

Hennessy is funding a holistic project anchored in Mount Kenya National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. More than 300,000 people depend on it on a daily basis: Masai, Kikuyu and other ethnic groups are drawing water from its forest, as well as harvesting fruits and medicinal plants. But deforestation in the region has altered weather patterns, causing droughts, and drying up the rivers that originate from the destroyed forest. Led locally by the NGO Trees for Kenya, the project developed by Reforest'Action combines several complementary actions, including the restoration of Mount Kenya National Park's forests. Over the long term, the impact of the restored forest on water resources will be substantial: groundwater recharge, increased river waterflow, more frequent rainfall, crop irrigation, etc.

![Kenya.jpg](/uploads/Kenya_73414890bf.jpg)

### Teaching sustainable agriculture in Madagascar

Reforest'Action and Hennessy have joined forces to develop an environmental and social project in Madagascar, Analamanga region. The island's forests, which cover 20% of the territory, are true jewels of biodiversity. However, they are suffering from the local agricultural system: slash-and-burn agriculture, consisting in burning the forest to make the soil suitable for cultivation, is responsible for dramatic fires that destroy between 50,000 and 100,000 hectares of forest each year. Led locally by the 2400 Sourires and Siel Bleu organizations, the project includes a major awareness-raising and training in sustainable agricultural practices program. Aimed at promoting agroforestry as an alternative to conventional agriculture and a means of improving farmers' living conditions, the construction of a [Forest School](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/forest-school-develop-agroforestery-models-madagascar) will help young farmers to create agroforestry systems on their land.

![Madagascar.JPG](/uploads/Madagascar_39cfa1a52b.JPG)


By making forests a central pillar of its sustainable development strategy, Maison Hennessy proves that having a positive impact outside its value chain is possible. Thanks to a long-term vision, the company simultaneously triggers the levers of emission reduction and contribution, thus reinforcing its participation in the fight against the climate crisis and the decline in biodiversity, while supporting local communities.

large_Forêt tropicale.jpg

medium_Forêt tropicale.jpg

small_Forêt tropicale.jpg

thumbnail_Forêt tropicale.jpg

Forêt tropicale.jpg

Forest Destination: a prestigious Maison makes the forest a central pillar of its social and ecological commitment

**Carole Renner, the head of the Innovation Impact Hub, has developed the [Reforest’Action carbon projection method and tool.](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/carbon-storage-projection-tool-bureau-veritas) She explains the requirements for which the tool was designed as well as what it effectively changes in our way of conceptualising the design of our forestry and agroforestry projects, and to add value for our contributors.**

### What was the need which gave rise to the development of the Reforest’Action carbon simulation tool?
**Carole Renner** : From the outset we worked on an internal carbon calculator to estimate in advance the reduction of emissions associated with our projects that are labelled “Bas-Carbone”. Starting from this first tool, we wanted to go further to better understand and add value to the sequestration of carbon in our forestry and agroforestry projects. Official certification implied an administrative and financial charge which could not be incorporated in the case of small-scale projects. In spite of everything, we wished to add value to our projects, not only as regards their carbon aspect, but also as regards the other advantages which they provide. Our carbon projection tool can thus be integrated into a panel of tools concerning the four multi functionality pillars defined by Reforest'Action on which the stability of ecosystems depends: climate, biodiversity, the soil-water system and of course, human well-being. Our carbon tool will soon be joined by a biodiversity tool which is currently at the prototype stage.

### What is the purpose of the carbon tool, its added value? 
**Carole Renner** : The added value of our carbon tool lies first and foremost in its capacity to facilitate the evaluation of climate impact as part of the daily work of our teams. Easy to use, our tool allows information to be gathered from our projects. The tool was not conceived in isolation and is actually the first milestone in the development of the panel of impact projection tools which I mentioned previously. This impact measurement process, conceived holistically, encourages us to collect more data, and thus to improve our understanding of projects. In summary, the use of our impact projection tools allows us to conceptualise project designs which are ever more appropriate, multi-functional and thus stable over time. This project stability is a major objective in the current climate change context and taking into consideration the risks of societal upheaval. They include ecosystem resistance in the events of disruptions, and resilience, as well as the ability to re-establish themselves after degradation. This stability also relies on a healthy soil-water system, rich and functional biodiversity, climate improvement and mitigation of its impact, as well as the value which an ecosystem represents for humans who influence it.

### In reality, how will the carbon projection tool work in daily life?
**Carole Renner** : In identifying a project, our teams gather complementary information together with the project implementer to be able to carry out a carbon simulation. The results of this simulation will allow us to adjust and improve the design and management of a project to optimise its impact. Once the design has been validated with the project implementer, it is put into operation. Carbon sequestration must be monitored, on the ground and through remote sensing, and progressively as the project grows to adjust the projection carried out at the outset. These data coming from the field - today relative to carbon, tomorrow relative to the full suite of our impact indicators - will allow us to supplement our projection tools, with a view to conceiving future projects. With continued improvement, we have also continued to gain forestry experience and expertise. 

### What does this tool provide for the companies that finance Reforest'Action projects?
**Carole Renner** : Thanks to this carbon tool and the other impact projection tools (biodiversity, socio-economic…), we wish to fully involve those enterprises financing projects for the regeneration of ecosystems. In providing them with quantitative data, assessed using a methodology validated by third parties, and monitored over time, we move our projects forward with them transparently, and enable them to better understand the real impact of their contribution. Our contributors are not only funders: they are involved in understanding the projects which they finance, and their influence on the environment and the communities with which they are connected. These impact projection tools are therefore not just a modelling tool to help in decision making. They provide a better understanding of what it means to work with nature and ecosystems.

large_Header-itw.jpg

medium_Header-itw.jpg

small_Header-itw.jpg

thumbnail_Header-itw.jpg

Header-itw.jpg

Carole Renner: “Facilitate the evaluation of climate impact and continuously improve the design of our projects”

**Projections for the impact of our forestry and agroforestry projects and measuring them over time has been one of the pillars of our activities. Technological innovation now opens up new perspectives for us, complementary to studies on site. Internally developed by the Innovation and Impact Hub, our tool for prior projection of carbon sequestration in our projects uses internationally recognised technologies. Since September 2023, this tool, and the method it applies has been validated by Bureau Veritas. It will be complemented by other projection tools currently under development which will assess the projects’ impact on biodiversity, on the socio-economic environment, soils and water, as well as their potential stability.** 

## A method and a tool validated by Bureau Veritas 

### Reforest’Action has developed a method and a tool for projecting carbon sequestration

In order better to fulfil its mission to regenerate ecosystems, Reforest’Action relies on its experience in the field but also on science and technology. Internally, the aim of our Innovation and Impact Hub is to estimate and measure the environmental and socio-economic benefits of our programmes over time. From 2023, our impact calculations are defined from the outset of the conceptualisation phase of projects, depending on their context, type, and challenges. They are allocated based on the four pillars of multifunctionality by which Reforest'Action characterises the stability of ecosystems: climate, biodiversity, the soil-water system, and human well-being.

With the purpose of optimising project design and measuring their impact on climate in particular, Reforest’Action’s Innovation and Impact Hub has since 2022 been working towards conceiving a projection method and carbon sequestration tool. This simulator has been operational since the summer of 2023. It makes it possible to project the carbon sequestration in our forestry and agroforestry projects in temperate and tropical zones in advance (before sequestration has taken place). In other words, the purpose of the tool is to provide an estimate of carbon storage for each project in terms of its conceptualisation and locality and give an estimated figure for potential carbon storage in the equivalent number of tonnes of CO2 sequestrated over 30 years. Thereafter, the data gathered during the long-term project monitoring makes it possible to confirm or adjust the carbon storage trajectory and to improve the data estimate used by the tool. 

To obtain validation from an independent third party concerning the compliance of the tool with international standards, we requested an external audit be carried out by Bureau Veritas, which confirmed the particular significance of Reforest’Action’s vision of sustainability of ecosystems and conservation of biodiversity and to the committed and ambitious nature of our project.

### Validation by Bureau Veritas guarantees compliance of the Reforest’Action carbon tool

[Bureau Veritas Certification](https://www.bureauveritas.fr/votre-besoin/certification) is a specialised auditing body in accordance with recognised certification processes, following international norms or particular specifications. Approached by Reforest’Action for the validation of carbon projection tool, Bureau Veritas in the first instance embarked on an operational and technical audit of the method conceived by Reforest’Action as well as the tool itself. Following recommendations made by Bureau Veritas and applied by Reforest’Action’s Innovation and Impact Hub, to improve the tool, the auditors gave a favourable opinion.

Thereafter, a validation committee convened on Thursday 21 September 2023 in the presence of Bureau Veritas auditors and interested third parties, amongst whom were, notably Corinne Lepage, former Minister of the Environment and European parliamentarian and three other collaborators from the Environmental Advocate’s practice, Huglo Lepage. After this committee meeting, Reforest’Action received a certificate of validation of its method and calculation tool, issued by Bureau Veritas in terms of the ISO 14064-3 standard which is applicable to the measurement of emissions or storage of greenhouse gases.  

![Comite-validation-Bureau-Veritas.jpg](/uploads/Comite_validation_Bureau_Veritas_d0c80270ad.jpg)

![Apercu-outil.png](/uploads/Apercu_outil_feddfc42ce.png)

## How will Reforest’Action apply carbon projection to its forestry projects?

### On what benchmarks do Reforest’Action’s method and carbon simulation tool rely?  

Our method is based on two guidelines of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the first international carbon financing system conceived in terms of the Kyoto protocol by the United Nations Organisation (UNO): the AR-ACM0003 methodology, applicable to reforestation projects and forestation of land masses (except wetlands), and the AR-AM0014 methodology, which applies to reforestation projects and forestation of degraded mangrove ecosystems. 

These methodologies determine the rules of evaluating sequestration of greenhouse gases which may apply to different kinds of ecosystems: commercial or secondary forests, agroforest ecosystems or mangroves. Thanks to the growth and management patterns inherent in each species of tree, it is possible to estimate the biomass (volume of living trees) in the project over time and a calculation of the quantity of carbon sequestrated at the various stages of the project’s progress. 

Reforest’Action’s carbon simulation tool articulates international methodologies and applies them to meet our internal operational needs. It was developed by [Carole Renner](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/interview-carole-renner-carbon-tool) in the Innovation and Impact Hub, and then digitalised to be more effective for all Reforest’Action technical teams. Our evaluation method complies with voluntary commercial quality standards namely: 
- **Additionality**: carbon sequestration would not take place without implementation of the project 
- **Measurability**: carbon storage is quantified in accordance with methodologies approved in terms of international standards 
- **Permanence**: carbon storage is perennial and irreversible for a period of at least 30 years 
- **Validation by an independent third party**: the projection method and tool are validated by an accredited third party 

### What are the prerequisites for all carbon simulation in our projects?

Before any advance estimate of carbon sequestration comprised in our forestry and agroforestry projects, three pre-conditions must be fulfilled. 
- **Stratification of the projects.** Since each simulation must take place on plots which are homogenous in terms of the conception of the project, initial conditions, and climate conditions, it is necessary to stratify the projects – in other words, to subdivide them, if necessary, in several separate homogeneous sub-plots.  
- **The determination of a buffer.** In order to take account of the risks of the non-permanence of the project (for instance as a result of fire, or a climatic disaster), a buffer must be established to reduce the final value of the CO2 equivalent tonnage calculated. This buffer can be calculated, for example, thanks to the guidelines of the AFOLU Non-Permanence Risk Tool, contained in the VCS (Voluntary Carbon Standard) international carbon standard. The default position of Reforest’Action is to apply a buffer value of 20%. This means the buffer is conservative in the light of our experience of carbon certification
- **The determination of a reference scenario and of a project design.** A "project design" must be determined and compared to a "reference scenario" which corresponds with what the site would become in the absence of the project. The comparison between the "reference scenario" and the “project scenario” makes it possible to estimate the additional sequestration caused by the project, and, thus not to overestimate the true impact of the project on the climate. 

### Which elements are included in the calculation of sequestrated CO2 on a Reforest’Action project? 

The elements which contribute to carbon sequestration in the reference scenario and the project scenario are referred to as “carbon sinks” or “sequestration compartments” which are as follows:
- **Aerial biomass**, which is to say woody biomass living above soil, including the trunk and branches of trees and bushes. The methodology for calculating carbon sequestrated in aerial biomass varies depending on the function and type of the project (commercial or secondary forests, agroforestry ecosystems or mangroves). 
- **Underground biomass**: which is to say all biomass comprising living roots, estimated following an equation proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for all these types of projects (except mangroves for which a different equation is applicable due to the specificity of their root systems).
- **Organic carbon in soils**, which means carbon sequestrated principally though the decomposition of vegetable matter in the soil, which comprises at least 50% of the organic material in the soil (before oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulphur).  The calculation depends on the soil type; all the factors and materials used for this estimate obtained through CDM methodology.
- **Wood products**, which means the ensemble of wood products (wood harvested to produce energy, for paper, light construction, or lumber) resulting from the harvesting of forests; this element of sequestration is taken into consideration only in the case of commercial forests. The duration and persistence of carbon storage in wood products depends on their quality and is modelled thanks to an equation recommended by the European Commission.
- **Dead wood**, comprising dead trees, whether still standing or fallen onto the ground and dead roots; and litter which is mainly constituted by dead leaves, twigs and branches covering the forest floor. These two compartments, which are optional depending on reference purposes as well as for the scope of the project are calculable as a proportion of living biomass, depending on climatic characteristics.

Elements which contribute to the liberation of carbon in the scope of the project are also considered for evaluating the quantity of CO2 which may be released into the atmosphere:
- **Combustion of biomass**; this is considered in prior estimates where fire is used for site preparation or for site clearance. The calculation thus only involves the emissions of greenhouse gases excluding CO2, since emissions of CO2 have already been accounted for as a loss of biomass.
- **Leakage of greenhouse gases**; these occur during activities prior to a project which must be removed for the implementation of such project, and emit more greenhouse gases as a result (in the case, for example, of the removal of livestock which would cause over-grazing of the project site). 

Through the Reforest’Action carbon projection tool, net absorption of greenhouse gases is thus calculated for all elements which, within the terms of reference and the scope of the project, contribute to carbon sequestration.  Finally, the objective is not only to take into consideration the supplementary absorption of greenhouse gases permitted by project activities. In concrete terms, once all the information has been gathered, the tool is then able to make a projection for the equivalent number of tonnes of CO2   sequestrated by a project over the course of time, to restore its value within 30 years.



**Carbon projection has already been proposed to those of our clients who wish to contribute to the regeneration of ecosystems. Reforest’Action provides an advance indication of the equivalent number of tonnes of CO2 sequestrated over 30 years, on each project financed, and undertakes to verify a priori, thanks to data collected on the ground and through tele-detection, whether the carbon storage trajectory is in line with its initial estimates. This ex post evaluation will be confirmed by a Bureau Veritas audit mandated by Reforest’Action. Thus, in September 2023, the first contributors undertook to finance Reforest’Action projects on which the carbon sequestration curves were modelled using our tool. Even though this does not lead to the issue of carbon credits, it nevertheless allows enterprises that wish to engage in a climate contribution approach to understand the impact of the projects they support. This is what Reforest’Action is proposing with the support of Bureau Veritas within the framework of the ISO 14064-3 international standards.**


large_Header-outil-carbone.jpg

medium_Header-outil-carbone.jpg

small_Header-outil-carbone.jpg

thumbnail_Header-outil-carbone.jpg

Header-outil-carbone.jpg

The carbon storage projection tool developed by Reforest’Action has been validated by Bureau Veritas

**In Nigeria, one of the world's most deforested countries, forest cover and wildlife habitat are disappearing in favor of agricultural land. At the same time, the need for wood and the development of urban areas are contributing to the over-exploitation of natural resources. To the northeast of the city of Pankshin, capital of the Plateau State, a project has been financed by Reforest'Action since 2022 and supported in the field by a non-governmental organization (NGO), Crescendo. The aim is to restore degraded farmland by creating living hedges to protect crops from livestock, and by developing agroforestry within cultivated fields.** 

![Pankshin_Nigeria_mai_2022_8.jpg](/uploads/Pankshin_Nigeria_mai_2022_8_5a03b418ff.jpg)

## Considering the needs of local communities in project design
Within the framework of the project, the integration of trees around and within agricultural plots aims to meet two main needs of the region's sedentary local communities: the protection of their crops from the cattle herds of nomadic breeders, and the accessibility of a wood resource derived from sustainable management and not from deforestation actions within the surrounding natural forests. 
Following in-depth botanical and landscape research, the project design was specifically conceived to take account of these local issues and determine the most appropriate planting schemes to provide optimal conditions for tree growth.

### Creating protective hedges around fields
In the villages involved in the project, trees and shrubs are planted in hedgerows around the fields. These "living fences" are essential to protect the fields of local farmers, whose crops were frequently damaged by the cattle of the nomadic Fulani people, who cross the region during the dry season. The species planted (Acacia sp., jatropha, Syzygium guineense) have been carefully selected according to several characteristics:
- Fast-growing, to enable these protective hedges to be set up quickly
- Thorny, to drive out livestock.
- Bushy, to make hedges more impenetrable through low branching.
- Sociable, to optimize their ability to evolve within a dense linear stand.
- Fertilizing, to enrich cultivated soils with nitrogen.
- Hardy, to cope with water stress during dry seasons.

In addition to their defensive and repellent role against stray livestock, hedgerows are also environmentally designed to create a microclimate conducive to increased crop productivity and resilience. The methods applied help to restore biodiversity to farmland and prevent soil erosion, with a view to more sustainable agriculture.

![Pankshin_Nigéria_nov21_15.jpg](/uploads/Pankshin_Nigeria_nov21_15_ea3c14d093.jpg)

### Combining trees and crops in the fields
Trees are also integrated into cultivated fields. The species have been selected to meet the needs of the communities in terms of wood, fruits and fodder. The creation of these agroforestry systems will bring numerous benefits: increased food security thanks to fruit harvests from fruit trees (African elemia, African locust bean, tamarind), production of wood for cooking (gmelina, African mahogany, eucalyptus) and fodder from tree leaves (albizia, Leucaena, Samanea); to help feed the livestock of sedentary communities, but also those of the Fulani people, who will be able to feed their herds without damaging the crops of local farmers. 
At the same time, awareness-raising initiatives, including in schools, aim to improve understanding of climate and environmental issues, and to train local people in agroforestry techniques.

![Pankshin_Nigéria_nov21_18.jpg](/uploads/Pankshin_Nigeria_nov21_18_1c4a64f894.jpg)

## Tree production and the challenge of water scarcity
Initiated in February 2022, the first stage of the project involved setting up three nurseries to produce seedlings. The Pankshin region is particularly affected by water resource issues. The dry season, which generally runs from October to April, is characterized by rivers drying up and a total absence of rainfall for several months. To create the best possible conditions for tree growth in the nurseries, our local partner, Crescendo, drilled boreholes to install wells, which have been useful both to the villagers, for increasing the availability of drinking water, and to the trees being produced in the nurseries. 
In all, 12 technicians worked on the production of 240,000 trees of various species in the nurseries. Seedling production was completed in May 2023. This year's rainy season had an irregular start, with a period of heavy rainfall between April and May, followed by an unusually long drought. Although planting began with the first rains, the young trees had to be watered by hand afterwards to prevent them suffering from the drought. Today, planting continues and is almost completed.

![Pankshin_Nigéria_nov21_13.jpg](/uploads/Pankshin_Nigeria_nov21_13_3899dc1add.jpg)

## Protecting the natural environment of Encephalartos, an endemic prehistoric species
In parallel with the project financed by Reforest'Action, our technical partner is also running a program to protect the Pankshin Hills Sanctuary. This is an ecological sanctuary located in a rocky and mountainous area, culminating at an altitude of about 1,600 meters, and home to a remarkable tree species, the _Encephalartos barteri_. This endemic species, whose existence dates back to prehistoric times, is now threatened with extinction: its total population within the sanctuary is estimated at between 300 and 1000 individuals. Against this backdrop, our partner Crescendo has obtained funding from the Darwin Initiative, a British government grant, to help restore the Encephalartos ecosystem and regenerate this species. This project to conserve the region's natural forests complements the Reforest'Action project, which aims to halt deforestation by providing communities with wood from sustainably managed agroforestry systems.

![Pankshin_Nigéria_nov21_19.jpg](/uploads/Pankshin_Nigeria_nov21_19_686877ee04.jpg)

large_Pankshin_Nigéria_nov21_19.jpg

medium_Pankshin_Nigéria_nov21_19.jpg

small_Pankshin_Nigéria_nov21_19.jpg

thumbnail_Pankshin_Nigéria_nov21_19.jpg

Pankshin_Nigéria_nov21_19.jpg

Nigeria, Pankshin: living hedges for more sustainable agriculture and livelihoods

**Haiti is one of the most deforested countries in the world. The massive loss of forest cover is mainly due to charcoal production, which is the population's primary source of energy. Since 2019, Reforest'Action has partnered with Agrinotech to run an agroforestry project that is both socially meaningful and impact-generating. In nine sections of the Saint-Michel de l'Attalaye region, our partner is dedicated to raise awareness among local populations and to provide training in sustainable agriculture, the only viable means of subsistence in the face of climate change. After three years of action, the project is bearing fruit in the field.** 

![Haïti agroforesterie 2.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_agroforesterie_2_49430b036d.jpg)

## Agroforestry as a response to huge challenges

Discovered in the 15th century by Christopher Columbus, the island of Hispaniola, comprising Haiti to the west and the Dominican Republic to the east, was originally 80% covered by a wide variety of trees. Today, Haiti is one of the most deforested countries in the world, with only 2% of the country's total surface area covered by woodland.

Deforestation in Haiti first started in 1730, during the colonial period, with coffee cultivation occupying a quarter of the territory. It intensified significantly over the 20th century in response to the massive and uncontrollable development of the timber industry. Between 2002 and 2022, the total area of primary rainforest in Haiti fell by 35%, meaning that over 3,000 hectares of carbon and biodiversity sinks were lost. In 2022 alone, deforestation in the country emitted 894,000 tons of CO2 equivalent*. Today, facing extreme poverty, the rural population is forced to chop down trees to produce charcoal, the only fuel available in the absence of any national energy policy. Farming families are bearing the brunt of negative impacts resulting from forest ecosystem destruction: soil degradation and lower crop productivity, prolonged drought, water pollution and more. 

*Source: Global Forest Watch, 2022.

## 2022-2023 season activities

Reforest'Action has been funding an agricultural ecosystem regeneration project in Haiti since 2019, carried out in the field by Agrinotech, an association of motivated agronomists whose ambition is to support and improve the Haitian agricultural sector. Over three planting seasons, the project has enabled the establishment of sustainable agroforestry systems. Forest, fruit, and medicinal species have been integrated into the crops of farmers from the municipality of Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye. The primary goals of this program are to regenerate the area's vegetation cover and to ensure the food and economic security of local communities. However, long-term objectives include preserving water sources and groundwater, which are already under threat, and increasing stream flows in the Saint-Michel area, while and providing people with sustainably sourced timber in order to reduce pressure on surrounding forests. 

Launched in May 2022, the project's final season ended in August 2023. The planting of a dozen different species, including tree species such as lemon and bitter orange, and native species including corossol, rabbi and mahogany, helped enrich the vegetable and cereal crops of volunteer farmers.

### Successes and challenges

At the end of the season, thanks to the mobilization of our project implementer and the active participation of local farmers, more than 535,000 seedlings were produced in the nursery and distributed to the beneficiaries, against an initial target of 515,000 seedlings. In addition, the species selection contained more native trees than in previous seasons.

![Haïti plantation 2.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_plantation_2_01faff3b0a.jpg)

![Haïti pépinière.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_pepiniere_417d2e3374.jpg)

Our partner Agrinotech, keen to continuously improve their practices, took advantage of this season to develop the project team's skills. Selected employees received training from the "Haiti Outreach" organization, which specializes in drinking water supply systems. Combating the drying-up of water resources is a major focus of the project financed by Reforest'Action, and the benefits of tree planting on the quality and quantity of water available will be monitored over time.

The 2022-2023 season was also marked by challenges related to the geopolitical situation in Haiti. The fuel shortage, caused by the gang war that has been raging in the capital since 2021, had major consequences on project activities. Fuel is needed to water seedlings in nurseries as well as to transport them to the farms where they will be planted. Significant adaptation measures have been taken to alleviate these difficulties. More staff were mobilized in the nursery to water the seedlings by hand, while fuel was purchased at high cost to deliver the trees on time. In addition, the main nursery was divided and relocated to three strategic sites so that trees could be more easily distributed to local farmers.

### Follow-up and monitoring visits

Prior to the new planting period, the Agrinotech team visited the previous beneficiaries' plots to assess the condition of the trees already planted. This monitoring work made it possible to replace all the trees that had not survived, and thus to measure the effectiveness of tree redistribution and transplanting. A check was also carried out on the plots of each new participant, with the aim of both analyzing the need for soil preparation before planting and recording the new beneficiaries on the project map. Our partner makes every effort to accurately trace the seedlings distributed, in order to guarantee optimal follow-up and monitoring of the project in the years to come.

### Recognition of positive impacts

The beneficiaries of the project, which began in 2019, have expressed their enthusiasm for the results achieved. Several of them shared with Agrinotech their observations of the first positive impacts on their land. Some growers said they had succeeded in creating a micro-climate around their plots thanks to the trees planted. Others have noted an improvement in the quality of arable soils, and several are delighted with the added value of forest products (fruit, medicines, etc.). Last but not least, a few say that the nearest water source is no longer dry, whereas it was before the project began. Many farmers therefore express their desire to continue and expand the project over the coming years.

![Haïti agroforesterie 1.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_agroforesterie_1_9b009715b4.jpg)

## The emphasis on awareness-raising and training

Our partner's strength lies in the tight bond it maintains with the inhabitants of the Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye region. Since wood logging by the population is one of the main drivers of deforestation in Haiti, the social dimension of the project is at the heart of Agrinotech's activities. There is an urgent need to raise public awareness on climate change and on the devastating effects of forest cover loss.

In concrete terms, several workshops were held to involve the general public in the project: local producers, religious associations, women's groups, schoolchildren, and local authorities were all invited. These sessions covered a wide range of topics, from the impact of deforestation and the benefits of agroforestry to more technical issues such as how to set up a tree nursery. In addition to empowering Haitian farmers by introducing them to new agricultural practices, Agrinotech aims to inspire and support all stakeholders in understanding environmental issues and applying concrete solutions. A total of 24 training courses were given during the 2022-2023 season, and some 10,600 people benefited from the project. 

On Labor and Agriculture Day, held every first of May in Haiti, the special "Plant Trees Save Lives" workshop lasted three days. Over 250 people from planters' groups and women's associations took part in the different sessions.

![Haïti formation 2.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_formation_2_d6a8916743.jpg)

![Haïti formation 1.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_formation_1_077d586b32.jpg)

### "School gardens" as a training reference 

Eighteen "model plots" were set up during this season. Considered as brainstorming and experimental workshops, these "school gardens" contain samples of endangered native plants and species capable of regenerating in the short term to meet the need for wood energy. Nearly 60 training courses have been carried out on these reference plots, attended by over 350 volunteers, with the aim of helping them to plant seedlings on their agricultural plots according to the recommendations of professional agronomists.

![Haïti formation 3.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_formation_3_33a2e3eb3f.jpg)

### Measures to promote the inclusion of women

At the heart of Agrinotech's social commitment is the inclusion of women. Women have been involved in the project through various mechanisms, most notably as part of the nursery team that operated from December 2022 to February 2023. Nurturing and maintaining a nursery is labor-intensive: purchasing and collecting seeds, mixing the substrate (compost, sand, and dirt), reseeding, transplanting seedlings for delivery, and so on. These activities have been carried out by a team of over 60 local farmers, 70% of whom were women, promoting their integration into the agricultural sector. 

In February 2023, several training sessions exclusively dedicated to women brought together around 100 participants for a workshop addressing the topics of agriculture and environmental protection. As an incentive and reward for taking part in the awareness-raising activities, each participant was given 25 citrus seedlings (orange and/or lemon trees) to plant on her own land.

![Haïti femme plantation.jpg](/uploads/Haiti_femme_plantation_7cf60808f1.jpg)

large_Header.jpeg

medium_Header.jpeg

small_Header.jpeg

thumbnail_Header.jpeg

Header.jpeg

In Haiti, our partner focuses on community training to ensure the sustainability of the agroforestry project

**On September 5, 2023, Reforest'Action spoke at the Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems Summit in Amsterdam, bringing together over 200 high-level decision-makers from the food supply chain sector. 
Stéphane Hallaire (Founder and CEO of Reforest'Action) took part in a round-table discussion moderated by Dana Rakha-Michalon (One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B), World Business Council for Sustainable Development). He debated with Nathalie Meurer (Director of Sustainable Development and 2030 Projects, Maison Hennessy, LVMH) and Alex Godfrey (Head of Natural Capital, Savills). 
The panel discussed the benefits of adopting a holistic approach as part of a "Nature Positive" corporate strategy.**


![Regenerative Agriculture Summit, Amsterdam 2023](/uploads/Microsoft_Teams_image_12_c00faa9218.png)

## Adopting a Holistic Approach
 
During the round-table discussion, Stéphane Hallaire stressed the need for companies to adopt a holistic approach when implementing regenerative agriculture projects. There is a strong temptation to consider only the carbon impact of projects in addition to agricultural production. But this is only a partial response to the environmental challenges we face. Indeed, with production declining over time due to declining soil quality and water scarcity, we need to act quickly and on a large scale on levers other than climate. Considering agriculture in silos can no longer be the right approach. We need to consider the complexity of ecosystems.
As such, the approach we promote at Reforest'Action starts with defining objectives and constraints regarding production, climate, biodiversity, soil, water, and social acceptance. We build tailor-made projects by adopting the best practices of regenerative agriculture - cover crops, crop rotation, and agroforestry - before assessing their impact over time.
This approach is more complex than conventional agriculture: it requires more skills and some investment. However, regenerative agriculture is a winning bet. In addition to generating carbon credits, it ensures greater crop resilience, for example, by limiting water requirements or protecting crops from strong winds. The purchase of inputs is also reduced, given the positive effects of biomass.

## Measuring the impact

To encourage this kind of agricultural transition, companies at the end of the agricultural value chain often must provide financing, as farmers rarely have the means to pay for the necessary investments. To do so, they need to know the benefits of adopting regenerative farming practices, hence the importance of defining precise objectives and measuring their attainment over time. Reforest'Action's ambition regarding the climate is to ensure that the farm captures more CO2 than it emits. For biodiversity, we consider a reference ecosystem without human intervention and ensure the project is close to it. We are also developing technologies to measure the carbon, biodiversity, soil/water, and social impacts of projects. Some measurement tools, such as soil sampling, are easy for farmers to use. Others, such as satellite and regional scientific data, enable remote analysis.

![Amsterdam Regenerative Agriculture Summit, 2023](/uploads/Microsoft_Teams_image_15_ef51259d6c.png)

**Agriculture is responsible for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. It also has a significant impact on biodiversity and water, for example. In this respect, the round table was an opportunity for Stéphane Hallaire to argue in favor of a holistic approach, as it would be too risky to focus solely on reducing carbon emissions in the context of agricultural production. 
Reforest'Action's holistic approach aims to regenerate terrestrial ecosystems on a large scale to meet global challenges, drawing on field experience, local communities, science, and technology.**


Regenerative Agriculture Summit, Amsterdam 2023

large_MicrosoftTeams-image (12).png

medium_MicrosoftTeams-image (12).png

small_MicrosoftTeams-image (12).png

thumbnail_MicrosoftTeams-image (12).png

MicrosoftTeams-image (12).png

Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems Summit:  Reforest'Action promotes a holistic approach 

**In its 2023 report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations sounds the alarm, calling for a rescue plan for humanity and the planet. Progress appears weak and insufficient on more than 50% of the SDG targets - eight years after their adoption and seven years before expiration. At the halfway point in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, urgent, reinforced, and coordinated action by public and private players is becoming essential. Financing and investment are more necessary than ever.**


## Key ideas from the report

1° The SDGs are in jeopardy: 

Of the 140 or so targets assessed, over 30% recorded no progress or, worse still, regression below the 2015 baseline. Disruptions caused by multiple crises have exacerbated problems of fiscal space in low-income countries (LICs) and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), leading to a reversal of progress on several targets and indicators.

2° Towards a recovery plan:

Agenda 2030 is still seen as the blueprint. However, a rescue plan for people and the planet must encourage fundamental commitment, solidarity, financing, and action changes. In achieving the SDGs, the world must change its current investment patterns and increase the overall investment volume. The urgent objective of the stimulus is to address the chronic international financing gap for the SDGs faced by low-income countries (LICs) and low-middle-income countries (LMICs) and to increase financing flows by at least $500 billion by 2025.

3° The contribution of the private sector: 

The report presents a six-point plan to reform the global financial architecture - public and private while implementing the SDGs Recovery Plan. It involves substantially increasing funding for national and sub-national governments and private companies to make the investments needed to achieve the SDGs. The plan also lies in creating ambitious and internationally accepted criteria for sustainable finance, mandatory for all public financial institutions. It requires aligning private company investment flows with the SDGs through improved planning, regulation, reporting, and monitoring at the national level.

The private sector can thus contribute through eight major types of complementary capital assets: human capital, infrastructure, natural capital, innovation capital, commercial capital, social capital, non-traditional statistics, and scientific channels.
The private sector can contribute through eight major types of complementary capital: human capital, infrastructure, natural capital, innovation capital, commercial capital, social capital, non-traditional statistics, and scientific channels.


## Focus on the status of the SDGs concerning forest ecosystems

Some of the SDGs examined in this report relate directly to forest ecosystems or more indirectly to socio-economic issues or cities (as in the case of urban forests). It is particularly true of:  

ODD n° 15. Life on Earth:

The disappearance of forests, soil degradation, and species extinction are still significant threats to the planet and its populations. 
The risk of extinction of mammal, bird, and amphibian species has accelerated by around 11% since 1993. Halting and reversing biodiversity loss requires a global approach combining regulatory and voluntary measures while mobilizing and aligning funding for biodiversity. 
Alarming trends in land degradation also demand urgent action: Between 2015 and 2019, at least 100 million hectares of healthy, fertile land were degraded yearly, undermining food and water security on a global scale.

SDG n° 13. Climate action: 

To limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be cut by almost half by 2030. However, under the current net-zero commitments of the 193 signatory countries to the Paris Agreement, only a 0.3% reduction is forecast within this timeframe. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has called for an immediate, deep, and sustained reduction in global GHG emissions across all sectors. Extreme weather events are already on the increase. Moreover, the uneven impact of the climate crisis on developing countries is considered particularly worrying. 

SDG n° 6. Drinking water and sanitation: 

To achieve universal coverage by 2030, current rates of progress in drinking water will have to be multiplied by 6, in sanitation by five, and in hygiene by 3. Forests and trees contribute to people and the planet by purifying air and water.

SDG n°. 11. Sustainable cities and communities: 

Cities face challenges such as urban sprawl, air pollution, and a lack of public open spaces. Efforts must focus on developing inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban policies that provide essential services, affordable housing, and efficient transport.

SDG n° 2. Zero hunger: 

Aid and public spending on agriculture are declining despite the growing global food crisis. Investment in agriculture is crucial to improve efficiency, productivity, and income growth and fight poverty and hunger.


## The need to take action in favor of forest ecosystems to meet the SDGs
 
In particular, the SDGs allow companies to demonstrate the social and environmental value they bring by supporting forest ecosystems.

For example, forests contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals in terms of securing livelihoods in the fight against poverty and food security (SDG no. 1 and 2), as well as good water management (SDG no. 6) and climate action (SDG no. 13). They help to halt and reverse the process of land degradation (SDG target 15.3) and halt the loss of biodiversity (SDG targets 15.1, 15.4, 15.5, 15.9 and 15. a). Above all, measures relating to forests, agriculture, food, land use, rural development, and national development must be synchronized. 

Such an integrated approach is essential to progress towards achieving the targets of the SDGs, as already pointed out by the United Nations (FAO) in 2018.


![Tanzanie 2.jpg](/uploads/Tanzanie_2_512d2c6ee4.jpg)

**Only seven years remain for all stakeholders to act responsibly in implementing the 2030 Agenda. Therefore, a Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals will be convened on September 18 and 19, 2023, to "mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.» Measures such as introducing regulatory innovations aligning private sector governance models with SDG targets could bring about substantial change if implemented quickly. "If we don't act now, the 2030 Agenda will become the epitaph of a world that could have been." - António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.**




### References


United Nations, The Sustainable Development Goals Report  2023: Special Edition.

United Nations, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The State of the World’s Forests 2018, Forest pathways to sustainable development.

2023 SDG Summit, 18-19 September 2023, New York.


















large_matthew-tenbruggencate-0HJWobhGhJs-unsplash.jpg

medium_matthew-tenbruggencate-0HJWobhGhJs-unsplash.jpg

small_matthew-tenbruggencate-0HJWobhGhJs-unsplash.jpg

thumbnail_matthew-tenbruggencate-0HJWobhGhJs-unsplash.jpg

matthew-tenbruggencate-0HJWobhGhJs-unsplash.jpg

UN Report on the Sustainable Development Goals 2023: The urgent need for a rescue plan for humanity and the planet

large_ReforesTerra validation audit.JPG

medium_ReforesTerra validation audit.JPG

small_ReforesTerra validation audit.JPG

thumbnail_ReforesTerra validation audit.JPG

ReforesTerra validation audit.JPG

ReforesTerra: a project to restore 2,000  hectares of Amazon rainforest in Brazil

Magazine

ReforesTerra: a project to restore 2,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest in Brazil