**From a mango tree planted in Senegal by Stéphane Hallaire in 2010, Reforest'Action was born, a visionary company dedicated to turning crowdplanting into a genuine lever for civic action. Fifteen years later, thanks to our ability to innovate and adapt, our experience in the field, and the trust of more than 3,600 companies, we are pursuing our mission to regenerate forest and agroforestry ecosystems on a large scale in the face of heightened global environmental challenges. To mark our anniversary, rediscover the history of this collective adventure!**

![RA 2018.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/RA_2018_1c487a6a6d.png)

## Reforest'Action, a pioneer in crowdplanting 

### The revelation of the Senegalese mango tree
In July 2010, Stéphane Hallaire traveled to Senegal and discovered a reforestation project. He planted his first tree, a mango. It was a revelation. On his return to France, he left his job and founded Reforest'Action. Every day, at lunchtime, Stéphane would take a walk in the forest and reflect on his strategy. That's how the idea of crowdplanting was born, what if everyone could plant the tree they were financing online? In October 2010, the first Reforest'Action website was launched.

### Reforest'Action gains the trust of companies 
The first companies soon put their trust in Stéphane and Reforest'Action, and financed the planting of thousands of trees in Senegal. To develop new projects, Stéphane traveled to Peru in 2011 and India in 2012. The following year, new partnerships were formed in Guatemala and Haiti. From its small office in Rueil Malmaison, Reforest'Action continued to expand the scope of its action in favor of forests.

### Reinventing ourselves to keep going
Despite these initial successes, the geographical distance between reforestation projects and French companies resulted in a significant drop in business. But Reforest'Action succeeded in reinventing itself by launching, in 2014, the development of forestry projects in France, as close as possible to companies. It was the innovation they had been waiting for, sparking renewed enthusiasm and engagement.

### Celebrating the first great successes
In 2015, Reforest'Action celebrated its fifth anniversary and was selected as a winner of the French Environment and Energy Management Agency’s “Investments for the Future” program. At the end of 2016, Reforest'Action reached the milestone of one million trees planted worldwide, thanks to the support of over 1,000 companies and 50,000 citizens. In 2017, new members joined the team. Forestry projects continued to spring up across Europe, and also in Morocco and Indonesia. That same year, Reforest'Action launched a new website to more widely include companies and citizens in support of forests.

![RA-2022.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/RA_2022_c97ada15f9.jpg)

## A strong growth driven by our commitment and expertise

### Citizens join forces with Reforest'Action
2019 marked a turning point in Reforest'Action's development. New projects were launched both internationally and within Europe. Reforest'Action created the Month of the Forest, whose first edition, held in March 2019, reached 7 million people in France and contributed to growing citizen momentum. From very small businesses to large corporations and medium-sized companies, many became contributors to our work. By the end of 2019, Reforest'Action had 19 employees, twice as many as the year before.

### Pandemics and resilience
2020 marked the tenth anniversary of Reforest'Action, 10 years dedicated to the challenges and benefits of reforestation, 10 years of discovery and professionalization, and 10 million trees planted. Despite a planting season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was an exceptional year, with strong and rapid growth, new offices, a dozen new recruits to strengthen the team with diverse talents, and the creation of a global network of Project Officers that allowed us to deploy our expertise as close as possible to the areas where we operate and to our local project leaders.

### International recognition of our work
As co-initiator of the Global Forest Summit in 2021 and speaker at the General Assembly of the United Nations Forum on Forests, our founder Stéphane Hallaire has helped strengthen global multi-stakeholder dialogue for forest protection and restoration. He also plays an active role in the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, founded by King Charles III as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative. In 2021, as the UN launched the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration and emphasized the need to triple investment in Nature-based Solutions by 2030 to respond effectively to environmental crises, Reforest'Action set the goal of planting or preserving 1 billion trees by that deadline.

![RA-2024.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/RA_2024_c36552c0a2.png)

## New strategic pillars

### Voluntary carbon market & regenerative agriculture
Starting in 2022, Reforest'Action embarked on a new chapter in its history. Recognizing that the voluntary carbon market is a major source of funding needed to achieve climate objectives, we are accelerating the development of high-quality certified projects designed to deliver strong impacts on climate, biodiversity and communities. We prioritize sequestration projects that meet the highest international standards. These projects, which are more complex and take longer to develop, more clearly demonstrate the long-term benefits of carbon sequestration. Our first certified projects are now underway in Brazil, South Africa and Rwanda.
As an expert in agroforestry, we also develop regenerative agriculture projects, either within a company's value chain or beyond, enabling them to take action to regenerate living systems while addressing specific or sectoral challenges.

### Impact monitoring and R&D
Thanks to the development of a hub dedicated to impact and R&D, we are building a comprehensive system for information and data analysis related to forest and agroforestry ecosystems and their benefits for climate, biodiversity, the soil and water systems, and communities. This global approach to impact management, which is unique in the market, is backed by 15 years of experience, scientifically validated methodologies and technological tools. It is supported by the launch of a digital MRV platform, which enables our teams to collect and analyze reliable, verifiable data on project implementation, monitoring and impact measurement, and to deliver key indicators to the companies that finance these projects.

### Large-scale investors
The company's growth continues. In 2024, we welcomed investors blisce/ and Eiffel Essentiel to accelerate the development of our impact monitoring technology and the deployment of large-scale certified natural ecosystem restoration projects. In 2025, Reforest'Action has more than 90 employees, including around ten Project Officers based close to the projects in the field.
Since 2010, more than 1,650 projects have been implemented across 45 countries, covering over 35,000 hectares, thanks to funding from more than 3,600 companies.

**With 15 years' experience, Reforest'Action is now a recognized and trusted player in Nature-based Solutions, thanks to its expertise in ecosystem restoration and its collaborative approach with local partners. The rest of the story is being written with you, contact us!**

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Reforest'Action: 15 years of commitment and innovation, serving the natural world

**In terms of Nature-based Solutions, high-quality forestry and agroforestry projects offer strong co-benefits for biodiversity, climate, soil health, water resources and people. The Global Biodiversity Standard is today the most robust biodiversity standard that certifies projects by assessing their specific impact on biodiversity. In addition to its role as an impact assessment expert and representative of the Europe hub, Reforest'Action now hosts its certified assessors.**

## Certifying projects based on biodiversity recovery

### The ambition of The Global Biodiversity Standard

Introduced in 2022, The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) is the only international standard to recognize and encourage the protection, enhancement and restoration of biodiversity. Against a backdrop of increasing numbers of projects to create and restore forest and agroforestry ecosystems, this standard aims to certify best practices that generate positive impacts on biodiversity, including the diversification of tree species and integrating native species into project design. 

In the long term, The Global Biodiversity Standard aims to change the benchmark so that biodiversity is placed at the heart of all initiatives that help combat climate change and develop the livelihoods of local communities.  

Founded by Botanic Garden Conservation International, The Global Biodiversity Standard is supported by an international scientific and technical network that includes IUCN, CIFOR-ICRAF, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Society for Ecological Restoration, Reforest'Action and others. The standard has tested its certification method in real-life conditions at over a hundred different sites, in collaboration with botanic gardens and other biodiversity institutions in India, Kenya, Peru, Brazil, Madagascar, Uganda, Malaysia, Jordan and Hong Kong.

### Our remote sensing tools for The Global Biodiversity Standard

As part of the Global Biodiversity Standard's technical and scientific network, Reforest'Action has been contributing its expertise in forest ecosystem restoration and impact measurement since 2022, and is developing [remote sensing monitoring tools](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/the-global-biodiversity-standard-reforestaction) in particular. Reforest'Action offers The Global Biodiversity Standard a catalog of tools dedicated to remote sensing measurements. These measurements are carried out both upstream of the implementation of projects certified by the standard, and downstream, as part of their monitoring. 

### Reforest’Action becomes official hub for TGBS

In addition to its role as an expert in impact management, Reforest'Action is now officially the European hub of The Global Biodiversity Standard, with the aim of bringing this certification to the Europe. 

At the end of January 2025, a panel of 7 internal Reforest'Action experts were trained by two Global Biodiversity Standard trainers, David Bartholomew (from the Secretariat) and Kiran Baldwin (from the India hub). External guests from our partner ecosystem - Sylva Nova, Preferred By Nature and Biotope - were also trained on this occasion.  

The aim of the training was to enable our team and our partners to carry out the audits required to award Global Biodiversity Standard certification to projects located in Europe. 

Reforest'Action thus joins the worldwide network of 200 assessors certified by The Global Biodiversity Standard, and will be able to call on its trained partners to certify its own projects, or to take part in the auditing process of third-party projects.  

![IMG_8989.JPG](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/IMG_8989_e688681ee4.JPG)

### What is the added value of TGBS-certified projects for the companies that finance them? 

“The aim of the Global Biodiversity Standard is to validate the biodiversity impact of forestry and agroforestry projects, whether certified by international carbon standards or not,” says Clara Manuel, Project Manager at Reforest'Action and internal operational referent for The Global Biodiversity Standard. “A TGBS-certified project can reinforce the credibility of companies, demonstrate their real commitment to biodiversity and offer a competitive advantage in terms of environmental responsibility. By improving the ecological state of ecosystems and their biodiversity, TGBS-certified projects are complementary to climate impact ambitions, materialized by certified carbon credits from dedicated international standards.” 

Healthy ecosystems not only help mitigate climate change, they also enable human societies to adapt to its consequences. Like carbon certification, TGBS certification is not an end in itself, but a means to the end of restoring ecosystems. In this respect, it is fully in line with Reforest'Action's mission to ensure, through its impact management process, that projects generate benefits not only for the climate, but also for biodiversity, the soil-water system and local communities.

## TGBS assessment criteria and certification process

### Evaluation criteria

Projects submitted for The Global Biodiversity Standard certification are assessed against criteria derived from the “10 golden rules for reforestation”. This scientific document, promulgated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Botanic Garden Conservation International, provides guidelines to ensure that reforestation and agroforestry projects promote biodiversity restoration, carbon sequestration and the creation of socio-economic benefits for local communities.

Projects certified by The Global Biodiversity Standard, whatever their type (reforestation, agroforestry, wetland restoration, etc.), must comply with these 8 criteria:

- 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 maximize biodiversity recovery through ecosystem restoration.
- Avoid and reduce invasive or potentially invasive species.
- Prioritize the use of native, threatened and rare species.
- Promote biodiversity and adaptive capacity.
- Implement robust monitoring, evaluation and adaptive management of biodiversity.

### The certification process

The certification process begins with a remote sensing survey, followed by a field audit led by a certified assessor from hubs like Reforest'Action, accompanied by three partner or local experts (each with a specialty in fauna, flora and socio-economic impact). 

The methodology for rating projects, led by the assessor, is then based on: 

- Measurement of changes in ecosystem integrity, including biodiversity, as listed in the Ecological Recovery Wheel, a tool designed by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) to study the process that accompanies the recovery of a degraded or destroyed ecosystem. 
- Assessment of the project's adaptive management measures (based on UN Decade Standards of Practice)
- Assessment of the site’s level of protection (aligned with IUCN protection categories)
- Assessment of the project's socio-economic impacts (based on the Social Benefits Wheel designed by the Society for Ecological Restoration). Indeed, the benefits of a project for biodiversity can only be maintained over the long term if local communities are closely involved, for example through the creation of sustainable economic activities linked to the project.

![Ecological Recovery Wheel.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Ecological_Recovery_Wheel_5346b64e03.png)
Ecological recovery wheel (source: Society for Ecological Restoration)

The project then receives an audit score on a 10-point scale, with a certification level at 5 points, Advanced certification at 7 points and a premium level at 9 points. 
The audit can take place as early as the design phase of a project, based on the evaluation of projected impact indicators (in which case it is the management plan that is certified), or after implementation. Certification, when awarded, is valid for 5 years, after which it must be reassessed.

**The voluntary carbon market is certainly a key lever for restoring ecosystems on a large scale. But the development of a dedicated biodiversity certification through The Global Biodiversity Standard, for which Reforest'Action now hosts certified assessors, also aims to direct more funds towards high-quality Nature-based Solutions, enabling companies not only to meet their climate objectives under the Paris Agreement, but also to generate positive impacts for biodiversity and local communities. Our mission is to support these companies as they move towards sustainable business models.
Are you a company looking to finance projects with a high impact on biodiversity? Reforest'Action offers you the opportunity to invest in project certification. [Contact one of our experts to discuss your needs.](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/contact)**


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Reforest’Action becomes a hub for The Global Biodiversity Standard

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**A summit in favor of climate action and biodiversity preservation**
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As President and Founder of Reforest'Action, Stéphane Hallaire participated in the One Forest Summit on March 1 and 2, 2023, in Libreville, Gabon. This summit was a pivotal moment. Indeed, it did not aim to adopt new political declarations but rather to implement the commitments made in Glasgow during COP 26 - to reduce and reverse deforestation by 2030, and during COP adopted on December 19, 2022, at the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) in Montreal - to protect 30% of the land and sea.

This summit also aimed to promote the contribution of tropical forests - particularly those in Africa, which are relatively unknown to the public. Note that by sequestering millions of tons of CO2, forest basins play a critical role in climate regulation. With their exceptional flora and fauna, they harbor biodiversity treasures and play a crucial role in preventing the emergence of new epidemics. Tropical forests are home to 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity and absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. As a result, forests are the world's second-largest carbon sink after the oceans: they drink twice as much CO2 as they emit. On top of it, behind the Amazon, the Congo Basin is the second largest forest massif. It is the ecological lung of the planet, with its 220 million hectares of forests spread across several countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, and Gabon. It alone absorbs 3 tons of CO2 every second. It is 88% covered by the equatorial forest, one of the two main green lungs of the planet. However, this "green lung" is threatened by agricultural and industrial overexploitation, particularly logging, oil, and mining. On its territory, it is committed to protecting one-third of the natural areas, both terrestrial and marine: an objective that France is carrying internationally with the High Ambition for Nature and People coalition, launched with Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, which now includes about one hundred countries.

Eventually, it was also an international summit that placed the question of the development of natural capital at the heart of the debates. The large forest areas are indeed "global public goods," according to the Elysée, which public and private actors must preserve.

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**A summit at the origin of the Libreville Plan**
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The One Forest Summit brought together more than 20 heads of state representing the major forest basins, members of the scientific community, African youth, business leaders, and representatives of indigenous populations. It also hosted leaders from UNESCO, IUCN, the Global Environment Facility, and the Green Climate Fund.

The exchanges led by these stakeholders resulted in the Libreville Plan[\[1\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn1), i.e., concrete commitments and initiatives. Indeed, the stakeholders sought to find a fair agreement: not only by seeking to reconcile environmental protection and support for the economy (1°) but also by considering the forest as being at the service of development (2°).

**1° Reconciling environmental protection and economic support**

Several measures have been adopted in this sense:

**\- Support for "positive conservation partnerships" (PCP):**

This PCP mechanism[\[2\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn2) represents a political and financial contract between the international community and countries agreeing to keep vital carbon and biodiversity reserves intact[\[3\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn3). At the operational level, it is an investment plan: remuneration will be provided to these countries in exchange for the protection of the forests. Indeed, in return for the commitment of forest countries, the international community will make available more funding, but also a mechanism for remuneration of services rendered by Nature kept intact, including carbon sequestration.

To initiate favorable conservation contracts tomorrow and bring the first tangible results to COP28 in Dubai, France, Conservation International, and the Walton Foundation announced the creation of a first investment for PCP contracts of 100 million euros. France will provide 50 million euros of this fund. The Walton Foundation and Conservation International will finance the rest.

However, based on the recommendations of the Global Environment Facility, the contours of this innovative new financing tool - including a combined logic with carbon credits (one tree planted, one tree saved) - have yet to be defined to guarantee the complete environmental integrity of a potential biodiversity certificate market. Indeed, countries that want this aid will receive "biodiversity certificates" granted for "services rendered by nature kept intact" - purchased by states or private actors.

**\- Accelerating the structuring of a market for carbon credits of very high environmental and social quality at the level of projects or national policies and initiatives:**

These carbon credits[\[4\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn4) could finance projects with positive impacts on the climate: keeping carbon in the soil or supporting biodiversity while benefiting local populations. In addition, the certificate mechanism will signal to both sovereign states and even private actors that they can reimburse these countries for their efforts if it is possible to guarantee that this is a solid commitment that will last over time.

**2° Considering the forest as being at the service of development**

The Libreville Plan indirectly recognizes the multifunctionality of forests. It thus values its role in development. Indeed, it aims to reconcile economic growth and environmental protection by identifying the ecological and economic benefits brought to local populations. Furthermore, tropical forests provide an invaluable service to local people and humanity by offering numerous resources, sequestering carbon, and sheltering biodiversity hotspots. Therefore, various measures have been adopted in the Libreville Plan:

\- The development of tools promoting sustainable forest management: strong protection such as national parks, sustainable management of natural resources, protection of vital carbon and biodiversity reserves such as mangroves. The launch of the 10by30 initiative is expected to create 10 million jobs related to sustainable forest management by 2030 - by promoting agroforestry coupled with agro-industrial activities, adopting circular economy principles in supply chains, or developing dedicated fuelwood plantations to curb deforestation.

\- Promoting sustainable value chains in the forestry sector[\[5\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn5).

\- Considering Indigenous populations as the first sentinels of the forest: through their knowledge and ancestral traditions and through the unique relationship they witness between Man and Nature. Uganda, France, and Gabon have thus launched a coalition "One Forest Guardian" aiming to propose to voluntary countries to inscribe by 2024 on the UNESCO World Heritage list these practices of inestimable value for the future of humanity.

\- Advancing knowledge and promoting scientific cooperation on forest ecosystems by creating the One Forest Vision project[\[6\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn6) to map three critical tropical forests: the Amazon, the Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia. The objective is to measure the impact on carbon and biodiversity.

**A summit recognizing the role of public and private actors in preserving forests - these "global public goods."**
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French President Emmanuel Macron wants to make the One Forest Summit an annual event to continue to guide global climate action by public and private actors to preserve these critical carbon sinks. As he pointed out, forests represent "a precious common good" at the global level: they constitute 50 to 75% of the Earth's biodiversity. They are the second largest carbon sink on the planet. This world summit in favor of the preservation and sustainable management of tropical forests has therefore put at the heart of the debate the issue of the valuation of natural capital by public and private actors and the multifunctionality of forests.

In this context, Reforest'Action is pleased to note that financing quality carbon projects is an essential prerequisite for achieving the objectives of global carbon neutrality - although it is not an end. Indeed, adequate financing must go well beyond carbon impact. It must include promoting and preserving biodiversity and allowing for the development of benefits for local populations - something that the Libreville Plan constructively encourages. Furthermore, financing quality carbon projects must be unrestricted from economic actors' necessary reduction of CO2 emissions.

Finally, this summit was also an opportunity for Stéphane Hallaire to exchange with members of the French, Rwandan, and Costa Rican governments on current best practices that would allow for the rapid and effective implementation of forest ecosystem protection and restoration. The fact that this summit brings together private and public actors contributes to aligning political will with economic issues. The next COP and the future meetings in 2023 will allow concrete progress on these particularly complex and large-scale issues.

* * *

[\[1\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref1) See the "Libreville Plan," the roadmap developed during the summit: [https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2023/03/02/le-plan-de-libreville](https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2023/03/02/le-plan-de-libreville).

[\[2\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref2) The Positive Conservation Partnerships are an initiative launched by France at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh - the counterpart to the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP), which bring together stakeholders and the private sector, and which have already been signed by South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam to move away from coal.

[\[3\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref3) This plan will be organized in three stages:

1\. The time of political commitment: countries with the most vital carbon and biodiversity reserves will be able to commit to protecting them with the support of the High Ambition for Nature and Peoples (HAC) secretariat. This first stone of the tower must allow for the release of substantial funding from the international community.

2\. The time of implementation: providing forest countries with financial means, technological and scientific tools within the framework of the One Forest Vision partnership, and economic solutions within the framework of the 10by30 initiative.

3\. Time to pay for the services rendered to the rest of the world: in return for the commitment of forest countries, the international community will provide more funding, but also a mechanism to pay for the services rendered by Nature kept intact, including carbon sequestration. Based on rigorous monitoring of the implementation of these commitments and their results, the PCP initiative will create a mechanism of remuneration for the services rendered by forest countries: the committed states would produce "biodiversity certificates," which can be purchased by sovereign states or private actors as a positive contribution to the protection of Nature.

[\[4\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref4) These credits could fall within Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement, which focuses on a non-market approach and whose implementation modalities began to be discussed at COP27 last November. Gabon has identified projects based not on offsets but on contributions - which cannot be subtracted from the investors' emissions - with high environmental value and which can be traded for 30 euros per ton. This represents an opportunity to limit removals to quantities that allow the forest to play its role as guardian of biodiversity while entrusting this task to local populations who would be reimbursed both by the sale of wood at remunerative prices and the maintenance of these spaces - a way to pay this double dividend.

[\[5\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref5) Gabon, France, and Canada have launched an intergovernmental platform on the sustainable use of wood and bio-based materials in construction to help replace concrete and cement in the coming years and transform African urbanization strategies. A total of nine countries have decided to join this coalition (Cambodia, Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of Congo, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, France, Gabon, and Canada).

[\[6\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref6) The scientific community has launched the "One Forest Vision" project to map the world's vital carbon and biodiversity reserves over the next five years and measure the level of carbon sequestration in tropical forests.

**Photos Credits:** Elysée ; Luk Senning / Unsplash

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Participation of Reforest'Action in the One Forest Summit: Global summit for the preservation and sustainable management of tropical forests

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His Majesty King Charles III has committed to devote a year of action to climate and biodiversity. For his first commitment to sustainable development in 2023, he organized an event on 17 February dedicated to action favoring nature and biodiversity. The degradation of biodiversity and the collapse of ecosystems are among the five leading global risks for society in the next ten years, according to the latest report by the World Economic Forum. Forests are home to more than 80% of the world's terrestrial species, whose survival is threatened if we do not take appropriate measures.

Stéphane Hallaire, as President and Founder of Reforest'Action, participated in a reception in favor of global biodiversity: an opportunity to meet project leaders and international leaders.

He then took part in a round table to encourage concrete action by the private sector in favor of nature.

**A reception in favor of global biodiversity**
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His Majesty King Charles III hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace in London to discuss the practical implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GFB) adopted on 19 December 2022 at the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) and consisting of four overarching global goals to protect nature and aims to combat biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems.

He brought together members of government and indigenous groups and representatives of companies that are members of the Sustainable Market Initiative, which he founded.

Stéphane Hallaire was then able to meet with project leaders such as Sam Skanyamibwa (Director General of the ARCOS Association), Domingo Peas (representative of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon), Atossa Soltani (Director of Global Strategy, Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative) and Jeanne-d'Arc Mujawamariya (Minister of the Environment of Rwanda).

It was also an opportunity for him to share with a wide range of stakeholders the progress of the actions carried out with the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, of which Reforest'Action has been a member since 2020.

**A round table to encourage private sector action in favor of nature**
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Following the reception, Stéphane Hallaire participated in a round table discussion organized by Lloyd's, SMI, and Bloomberg NEF entitled: "Conserving and restoring: Stimulating private sector action for nature."

During the event, over 80 participants shared experiences to agree on operational actions to support biodiversity and nature protection, halt the drivers of biodiversity loss, and promote nature restoration and regeneration. This includes identifying priority areas for action in the short term and five land and sea areas per year where the private sector can and should contribute.

The day was very action-oriented and brought together different stakeholders who wanted to work together to impact biodiversity significantly.

**Nota bene:**
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**The Sustainable Market Initiative (SMI)** was founded by His Majesty when he was Prince of Wales. It was launched at the World Economic Forum 2020 Annual Meeting in Davos. SMI's mission is to build a coordinated global effort that enables the private sector to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.

This includes aligning industry, investment and country roadmaps (nationally determined contributions). Under the mandate of the Terra Carta, a private sector roadmap for nature, people, and planet, the Sustainable Markets Initiative is working to encourage three major market transformations:

*   A sea change in corporate strategies, operations and supply chains;
*   A reformed global financial system;
*   An enabling environment that attracts investment and drives action.

**References:**
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World Economic Forum, “Global Risks Report 2023”, 11 janvier 2023, [https://fr.weforum.org/reports](https://fr.weforum.org/reports)

FAO. 2022. _In Brief to The State of the World’s Forests 2022. Forest pathways for green recovery and building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economies._ Rome, FAO, [https://doi.org/10.4060/cb9363en](https://doi.org/10.4060/cb9363en)

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Participation of Stéphane Hallaire, President and Founder of Reforest'Action, at an event organized by His Majesty King Charles III in favor of biodiversity

Adopted in 2014 and revised in 2021, the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a global political text calling for international action to protect and restore forests by 2030 through 10 goals. Subject to an annual progress review, the Declaration is supported by nearly 200 governments, businesses, NGOs and indigenous communities. In 2022, Reforest'Action became an official endorser of the NYDF.

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Ten goals to achieve by 2030
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The [New York Declaration on Forests](https://forestdeclaration.org/about/new-york-declaration-on-forests/) was adopted in September 2014 at the Climate Summit. Bringing together 10 goals, the text constitutes the first global agenda aimed at, among other things, halting deforestation and restoring 350 million hectares of degraded forest land and landscapes across the globe by 2030. While the 2020 interim targets were not met, the NYDF has been revised into a new version in 2021. Meeting these targets would mitigate climate change by more than 7 billion tons of CO2e per year.

While not legally binding and distinct from the [UN Global Forests Goals](https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Global-Forest-Goals-booklet-Apr-2019.pdf), the Declaration represents the primary global text for mobilizing a diversity of stakeholders for international action on forests. By becoming an official endorser of the NYDF, Reforest'Action joins some 200 governments, businesses, NGOs and other indigenous communities committed to helping achieve these goals by 2030 by turning commitments into action. This commitment will also allow Reforest'Action to benefit from the NYDF network and the sharing of experiences among official supporters.

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A platform to accelerate action
-------------------------------

Established in 2017, the [Forest Declaration Platform](https://forestdeclaration.org/about/) aims to be one of the world's most comprehensive multi-stakeholder frameworks for forest action. It was founded in response to requests from NYDF supporters for a multi-stakeholder space to energize political endorsement of the Declaration, to facilitate coordination and communication, to share best practices, resources and lessons, and to support ongoing monitoring of progress.

Led by a secretariat composed of UNDP and civil society actors, the Platform has several missions, including publishing an [independent annual assessment](https://forestdeclaration.org/about/assessment/) of progress towards the commitments contained in the NYDF and other texts such as the Glasgow Declaration adopted at COP26. The Platform's mission is also to scale up and accelerate forest action by providing support and implementation mechanisms at the regional and national levels, and to encourage the political ambition of world leaders through collaborative action.

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Reforest'Action becomes official endorser of the New York Declaration on Forests

![Participants planting the trees](/uploads/dsc02763_0de34a2815.jpg)
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**A European-level collaboration**
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Through the European Green Deal, the European Commission has committed itself since 2019 to transforming the different economic sectors towards a major reduction of their carbon emissions. Under its [Forest and Biodiversity Strategies,](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/blog/eu-forest-strategy-2030-strong-environmental-path) flagship initiatives of this program, the European Union recognizes the central role of forest ecosystems in the fight against climate change. The roadmap is ambitious: to plant 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030.

These additional plantings, which consist of growing the right tree in the right place, require the collaboration of all private and public sector stakeholders. With 28 forestry projects in Europe to its credit, and more than a hundred in France, Reforest'Action is [actively cooperating](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/blog/european-union-3-billion-tree-planting-pledge-reforestactions-contribution) with EU institutions to create biodiversity-rich multifunctional forests and expand European forest cover.

**European youth as a driver of change**
----------------------------------------

In the framework of the [European Year of Youth](https://youth.europa.eu/year-of-youth_en) in 2022, the European Union called on its youngest citizens to be part of a more sustainable world. Because youth represent the change Europe needs, the objective was to open the way to many more commitment opportunities.

Within this call to action, the European Commission in France has joined forces with Reforest'Action, allowing young French people to take action for the environmental cause, and more specifically that of forests. A great example of citizen mobilization that reflects the collective awareness of young people facing the climate emergency.

**![Teenage girl planting a tree](/uploads/dsc02932_78d5429473.jpg)**

**A participative and educational event**
-----------------------------------------

Last Saturday, November 26th in Reims, Reforest'Action and the Representation of the European Commission in France co-organized the participatory planting of an urban forest in partnership with the Urban Community of Greater Reims, which is also the project leader, Europe Direct Reims Grand Est and the Water Agency of Seine-Normandie.

About sixty participants, more than half of whom were under 25\*, took part in tree planting activities and awareness-raising workshops to learn more about the threats and benefits of forests. For more than 4 hours, Reforest'Action teams shared their knowledge and expertise with the young generation.

After a [first success in 2021,](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/blog/morning-citizen-dialogue-and-participatory-planting-european-commission-france) Valérie Drezet-Humez - Head of the Representation of the European Commission in France - inaugurated the second edition of this collaboration. Arnaud Robinet, city Mayor of Reims, and Catherine Vautrin, President of the Greater Reims Urban Community, also addressed the young audience. The event ended with concrete proposals, formulated by the participants themselves, to preserve and restore European forests.

_\*Many of the young people who attended were involved in civic service or were part of the city council of Reims._

![Forest awareness workshop with children](/uploads/dsc02710_c5afbdf4e6.jpg)

**A multi-benefit urban project**
---------------------------------

The European Union's strategy for biodiversity emphasizes the greening of cities, which must become favorable landscapes for the development of urban nature. In this perspective, the city of Reims is setting an example with this urban forest project located in the heart of the Châtillons district, near several residential areas and shared gardens. In total, 3300 trees will be planted on a strategic water catchment site, 2000 of which are financed by the European Commission and 500 were planted during the event.

Maples, oaks, birches, willows, lindens...: 18 different tree species will compose this diversified forest of 2 hectares. Started by the city of Reims in 2016, this project will result in the birth of a multifunctional forest protected by a row of hedges.

The urban location of this forest provides it with significant environmental and social benefits. Taking root on a former abandoned concrete area, the trees will regenerate the traumatized soil, cleaning it up and making it more permeable. Concrete is one of the main causes of soil erosion and pollution. The root system of the trees will filter the rainwater currently collected on site and eventually make it suitable for consumption without any treatment. Located in the city, the future forest will be the best natural way to reduce road noise and lower temperatures by several degrees in the surrounding area, to the delight of residents. Finally, the planted trees will be a home for wildlife, including several species of birds, rabbits and hedgehogs, and will thus mark the return of biodiversity.

**![Stéphane Hallaire and Valérie Drezet-Humez are planting a tree together](/uploads/dsc02673_ba29d35e4d.jpg)**

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European youth get involved for the forest in Reims

**Invited by the World Economic Forum to participate in various events during the Climate Week as part of the Sustainable Development Impact meetings, Stéphane Hallaire, President of Reforest'Action, shared our expertise in reforestation and agroforestry. His presence in New York was also an opportunity to have bilateral meetings with major actors and funders of forest restoration.**

![](/uploads/climate_week_central_park_06daa13b87.jpg)

Every year in New York, the [Climate Week](https://www.climateweeknyc.org) brings together, in parallel with the UN General Assembly, a host of public and private actors involved in the fight against climate change. Stéphane Hallaire, President of Reforest'Action, was present at the 2022 edition to participate in several events organized by the World Economic Forum and 1T.org as part of the Sustainable Development Impact meetings.

### Best practices, technology, scaling up and funding

Accelerating forest restoration, financing, ecopreneurs: these are all topics on which Stéphane Hallaire shared his vision and Reforest'Action's expertise with dozens of leaders from public and private organizations. In particular, he emphasized the importance of developing best practices in both reforestation and agroforestry, such as the diversity of species planted, community participation, scientific support and technology for high-quality monitoring and fine impact measurement.

![](/uploads/reforestaction_climate_week_dbd913f8b4.jpg)

The president of Reforest'Action also recalled the need to transform value chains through agroforestry to reduce the risks of deforestation. Dialogue and cooperation between various stakeholders, both locally and globally, is also one of the key conditions for success in accelerating the restoration of the world's forests, he said, and it is in this sense that Reforest'Action co-organizes the [Global Forest Summit](https://www.globalforestsummit.org/) each year.

In parallel to these events, Stéphane Hallaire had the opportunity to develop a dialogue, via bilateral meetings, with major actors and funders of forest restoration in the United States and around the world. With less than two months to go before [COP27](https://cop27.eg/), the fruits of Climate Week 2022 must be focused on one word: action!

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Climate Week 2022: Reforest'Action participates in the dialogue on forest restoration

What is reforestation?
----------------------

Reforestation means planting trees in an existing stand, **on bare land or on land that was previously forested.** There are several benefits to this procedure. I**t helps to maintain the balance of all the ecosystem services –** which may be economic, cultural, environmental or health-related – provided by forest areas When reforesting land that has not had any trees on it for a long time, we call it afforestation. The most frequent example is agricultural wastelands or grasslands, whose environmental and economic value is enhanced when trees are planted.

Why reforest a plot?
--------------------

![Reforestation projects can be used to upgrade a dying plot of land](/uploads/reboisement_seo_1_1157609978.jpg)

Reforestation projects can help to upgrade a depleted plot whose ecological functions have been altered. They may also aim to restore a stand devastated by a natural disturbance, such as weather events, pests or disease. Reforestation is also undertaken when the future of a stand appears compromised due to a lack of natural regeneration among the specimens it contains.

In all these cases, reforestation is a way of diversifying species, renaturalising the land and making the stands more resistant. In addition, reforestation projects are beneficial to the landscape, adding some relief. They may also serve to supply a variety of forest products that can be useful to people including timber, fuelwood, medicinal plants, mushrooms, and so on. At the same time, planting trees improves water quality, soil fertility and enriches biodiversity.

![](/uploads/reboisement_seo_2_6e12cfd643.jpg)

More generally, one real advantage is that forest areas will be passed on to future generations, along with a forest culture. The trees planted store carbon and will therefore contribute to the fight against climate change.

### Possible obstacles to reforestation

Reforesting a plot is a long-term – or very long-term – commitment. As such, the financial benefits generated by the procedure are often only felt one or two generations later.

What is more, climate change is causing increasingly worrying failure rates. Wood prices are also highly variable, meaning return on investment can be unpredictable.

Another aspect that can discourage the financing of a reforestation project is the fact that the forestry sector comprises a high number of private and public operators.

The various stages in reforestation
-----------------------------------

Reforestation projects proceed by stages and a number of rules must be followed.![Reforesting is a long-term – or very long-term – commitment.](/uploads/reboisement_seo_3_5429de24d4.jpg)

### Reforestation : defining the objectives

The first stage is to set the project’s objectives. This is necessary to make sure that the species best suited to the terrain and conditions are selected, **and thus reduce the risk of failure.**

We then need to estimate the extent of the planned work and the cost of the project measured against the needs and objectives set. To this end, producing a precise map of the plot can help with planning.

Finally, the various hazard risks resulting from the plot’s location, climatic conditions or the risk of biotic attack should be listed.

### Planting

Ideally, young plants less than 30 cm tall should be obtained from local nurseries, to avoid damaging them during transport. A hole of around 40 cm3 should then be dug to allow the specimen to grow in the best possible conditions. For fruit trees, the hole should be around 1 m3. Once the saplings have been planted, weeds and other plants that may hinder the young trees’ growth must be removed – the inevitable weeding process.

If the young plants are to grow properly, they need sufficient water so it is important to plant them during the rainy season, which depends on the region.

![Reforestation projects can help to upgrade a depleted plot whose ecological functions have been altered.](/uploads/reboisement_seo_4_dc3e2df291.jpg)

### The sustainable management document

In France, documents such as the _Plan Simple de Gestion_ (PSG, Simplified Management Plan), the _Règlement Type de Gestion_ (RTG, Forest Management Standard Regulations) or the _Code des Bonnes Pratiques Sylvicoles_ (CBPS, Code of Good Forestry Practices), are recommended to secure successful reforestation. Indeed, in some instances, this management document must be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to confirm that the parcel complies with the forestry policy in force. It is also useful for owners to list the forestry work to be planned to achieve the objective set in the reforestation project.

The cost of reforestation
-------------------------

The cost depends very much on the project itself and the following criteria:

*   The cost of the saplings
    
*   The cost of labour, purchase and hire of equipment and products
    
*   The method selected to maintain the stand, depending on the type of management.
    
*   If labels are involved, such as the Low Carbon Label, then the cost of obtaining the label must be accounted for, along with the profits if financial backers wish to invest in the project.
    
*   Any taxes involved (often restricted to professionals).
    
*   The return on investment if the trees planted are to contribute to local timber and forestry product production.
    

The different types of reforestation
------------------------------------

### Afforestation and forest reforestation

Trees can be planted on forest plots used for commercial purposes after clear-cutting. They may also be planted in stands weakened by poor natural regeneration or by a climatic or biological hazard.

![Reforestation land](/uploads/reboisement_seo_5_8e1e6f2257.jpg)

### Afforestation of agricultural land

Afforestation of former agricultural land is an effective way of increasing forest cover while restoring the ecological properties of plots damaged by years of exploitation and chemical fertiliser use.

Introducing trees on this type of land helps limit soil erosion, cleans the water table and encourages greater biodiversity in the areas in question.

### Hedgerows

[Hedgerows](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/hedgerows-definition-regulations-cost) have been gradually disappearing from our landscapes since the 1970s, yet they offer an array of environmental benefits. Today, they are making a comeback on agricultural land, and hedgerow planting is one form of reforestation.![](/uploads/reboisement_seo_6_4b3296b1a7.jpeg)

### Agroforestry

[Agroforestry](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/agroforestery-definition) model combines agricultural practices, livestock farming and forestry and is regularly the subject of experimental work. Like hedgerows, it offers numerous benefits. The value of this type of reforestation has also been demonstrated by a study conducted by the Chambers of Agriculture and the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) as part of the SAFE programme (Silvoarable Agroforestry For Europe).

### Micro-forests and urban woodlands

![](/uploads/reboisement_seo_7_736820830f.jpg)

Micro-forests (also known as urban forests or Miyawaki forests) do not serve an economic purpose, and instead play a purely environmental and social role. Their primary objective is to create fresh green areas within cities, to encourage the presence of biodiversity in urban areas and to raise awareness of the importance of forest cover when building the city of tomorrow.

Reforestation in France
-----------------------

### Wood-related commitments and certifications

Labels guarantee consumers and industrial buyers that the timber products they purchase comply with sustainable forestry management standards. The two most prominent labels in France are PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).

However, an increasing number of labels are now available, such as the Low Carbon Label, which certifies that a project achieves a sufficient reduction in greenhouse gas emissions or carbon sequestration.

### The legislation of reforestation

Municipalities set the regulations and may forbid reforestation projects for various reasons, relating to the environment or local land use. In France, there are three possible scenarios:

There may be a “prohibited afforestation area”, which means no planting is allowed on a plot for 10 years.

“Regulated afforestation areas” concern areas where the departmental council can forbid or regulate projects that are declared.

In “unrestricted afforestation areas”, there are no restrictions or prohibitions preventing afforestation.

At the same time, if a forest tract of 1 hectare or more within a forest stand exceeding 4 hectares is harvested, the owner is obliged to replenish the stand, regardless of its composition. This reforestation, required by law, can occur through planting or through a process of natural regeneration.

In addition, remember that any afforestation covering a surface area of 25 hectares or more is subject to a mandatory state-supervised management plan. As mentioned above, this can be one of three types of management document: the PSG, the RTG or the CBPS.

### State aid

Although reforestation projects come at a cost, private and public aid is available at local and national level.

The national recovery plan includes a €200 million reforestation plan for French forests along with support for the timber industry. This reforestation plan incorporates a forest fund to renew, diversify and adapt forest areas to climate change.

Various types of financial aid is available and the different schemes can change from one year to the next. To help owners navigate their way through them all, the Fransylva teams and the regional centres for forest property (CRPF) can provide information.

### Funding available from Reforest’Action

Keen to help numerous forestry projects get off the ground, Reforest’Action finances restoration, afforestation, agroforestry and natural regeneration initiatives. For more than 10 years now, Reforest’Action has been working to safeguard France’s forest heritage by supporting multiple restoration projects throughout France, Europe and the rest of the world, to help forests survive climate change.

\> To find out if your project is eligible, [consult our specifications](https://www.reforestaction.com/sites/default/files/cdc_reforestaction_2021-2022.pdf).

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Reforestation : All you need to know

![What is forest garden?](/uploads/baies_mains_2_8ffc765cd3.jpg)

Over the centuries, Humankind has shifted away from the hunter-gatherer model and become a crop grower. However, after more than half a century of intensive agriculture, the consequences are severe: when applied over extensive areas, farming impoverishes the soil and significantly harms biodiversity. Agriculture has multiple impacts on the environment – ploughed-up land, soils exposed and eroded by climate phenomena, genetic diversity depleted – and raises questions about this model’s sustainability. But what if there was an alternative model enabling sustainable and resilient food production without compromising the environment?

What is a forest garden?
------------------------

Forest gardens are a form of agroforestry. This age-old technique means integrating trees into agricultural landscapes to reproduce the natural mechanisms of the forest. It capitalises on the synergies of the forest ecosystem and biodiversity to generate a virtuous crop model. By combining complementary species, the forest garden takes advantage of each species to establish a stable ecosystem. It draws on the ancillary benefits generated in terms of biodiversity, soil improvement and complementary resource production (fodder, wood, fruit) and thus enhances the land’s yield capacity. Usually applied to large surface areas used for organic farming, agroforestry can be used at a smaller scale with the forest garden model.

### The forest garden, a nature-inspired ecosystem

Recognising of the instability of the conventional food production system, horticulturist and ecologist Robert Hart1 and organic farmer Martin Crawford2 advocate for natural farming and the introduction of agroforestry systems in temperate regions. “No one fertilises or waters a forest. A forest is self-sustaining. If you can recreate an edible forest, your main task will be harvesting its fruit,” explains Hart.

The forest garden is based on the permaculture model, reproducing natural mechanisms in a small area to create a vegetable garden inspired by the natural organisation of a forest ecosystem. Otherwise known as a food forest or edible forest, this type of cultivation results in the accumulation of abundant, long-term resources. The forest garden is a dense ecosystem built on several types of vegetation: trees, shrubs and grasses. It is made up of a variety of species and is perfectly adapted to temperate climates. It thus allows a self-sustaining system of wild and nourishing species to become established. It has all the features of the forest, such as berries, roots, seeds and mushrooms, on a smaller scale.

### An ecosystem for the future

![The forest garden is an ecosystem for the future](/uploads/jardin_foret_2_e458ad00e4.jpg)

©JardinPro

Once planted, a forest garden becomes self-sustaining with an unlimited life span. By introducing a diverse range of species, the plants are mixed strategically to prevent the spread of disease. Ground cover plants protect the soil from evaporation, maintaining water in the ground. Thanks to this virtuous circle, the ecosystem naturally establishes synergies between the plants, animals, minerals and humans and functions in a self-sufficient way.

### Benefits of the forest garden on living beings

This type of ecosystem encourages the presence of rich local biodiversity including birds, insects, reptiles (lizards, grass snakes, toads) and various mammals (hedgehogs, bats, etc.). To encourage the presence of abundant wildlife, which is conducive to a stable environment, nesting boxes or natural shelters are installed in the forest gardens: stone piles, insect hotels, ponds, high perches, etc.

Forest gardens are a real breakthrough in food production but also have a strong social impact. In addition to the food resources they provide, they are a source of well-being for the community. In towns, food gardens help reshape the urban landscape and are likely to become more widespread in the context of climate change, as they create islands of coolness and store carbon from one year to the next.

### Forest gardens as meeting places

As well as contributing to local food production, gardens can be used as places for community building and cohesion in both rural and urban areas. Some garden forest projects are entirely based on the inclusion of young people, pensioners, schools or even people with disabilities, to foster social interaction and create support networks. Increasingly, forest gardens are the focus of educational workshops covering aspects such as tree planting, wicker weaving, sampling food made from forest garden produce, the history of agroforestry and the people who use it, etc. The aim is to raise awareness among young people about the importance of forest ecosystems and biodiversity, while discovering and observing nature.

### Multiple therapeutic effects in urban areas

Therapeutic gardens are now flourishing in large cities: at a time when 36% of the population claims to have experienced some form of burnout3, a number of organisations and companies are offering staff the opportunity to unwind with this outdoor activity. Take the Lyon-Sud Hospital, for example, which has its own forest garden open to patients and staff.

The 7 layers of the forest garden
---------------------------------

![The 7 layers of the forest garden](/uploads/7_strates_canopees_0_befb7eff07.png)

For a long time, it was customary to separate the orchard from the vegetable and medicinal gardens, but the forest garden functions in a completely different way. Despite its wild appearance, it has an organised structure inspired by observation of the natural forest. It is divided into distinct levels, which imitate the succession of plants in the forest. There are seven layers in the forest garden. In the most advanced models, there are up to six horizontal levels and a seventh vertical level of climbing plants and vines.

How to create a forest garden?
------------------------------

To create a forest garden, you need to prepare your project properly and take numerous aspects into account.

### Studying and preparing the land

The first crucial step in creating a forest garden is to observe the area’s characteristics. Before drawing up a layering plan, you should identify which species to introduce, according to the site’s specific properties: hardiness of the zone, annual sunshine, pH, type of depth, location of water tables, rainfall, etc. The type of plot on which the forest garden is to be established will determine how it is managed; for example, it could be a meadow, orchard, fallow land, urban area or forest.

*   Meadows: in the case of pastureland, the priority is to increase the density of the landscape by introducing native trees adapted to the site and which grow quickly, such as birch, alder buckthorn or holm oak.
    
*   Depleted soils: to revive a degraded soil, various species of “architectural, fertilising or engineer” trees can be introduced.
    
*   Forest: the work undertaken will let in light to encourage the growth of the substrata.
    

The range of plants used must be adapted to the soils. Taking forest humus from woodland with a similar soil composition and adding it to the forest garden soil is one way of developing new life forms in depleted environments.

### Which species to choose?

Not all species have the same biotope (a geographically defined living environment with uniform ecological conditions), so factors related to the area’s environmental characteristics will determine the design of the forest garden in terms of species, varieties, rootstocks, density, harvesting and plant spacing. The species must therefore be carefully selected so that they can live in symbiosis.

There are several types of species:

*   Architectural: these grow vertically and create shade
    
*   Engineer: they structure the soil and favour humus
    
*   Fertilising: their leaves and dead wood feed the ecosystem
    

#### Types of species per stratum:

For each layer of the forest garden, many different species can be introduced:

1.  Canopy (the large trees): walnut, chestnut, lime, caragana, ash, almond, apple, pear, cherry, quince, ginkgo biloba, alder, beech, pine, cedar, wild cherry, acorn oak, etc.
    
2.  Small trees (sub-canopy layer): apricot, plum, fig, Japanese silverberry, hazelnut, Amelanchier, peach, dogwood, willow, mushrooms on logs (shiitake, oyster mushrooms, etc.)
    
3.  Shrubs and bushes: Jostaberry, blackcurrants, currants, aronia, goumi, goji, lemon trees, etc.
    
4.  Herbaceous perennials: bamboos, artichokes, rhubarb, cranberries, etc.
    
5.  Ground cover or root vegetables: fruit trees (strawberry, raspberry), mint, vegetables (cabbage, spinach, artichoke, sorrel, leek), nettles, salad leaves (lamb’s lettuce, cress, lettuce, dandelion)
    
6.  The rhizosphere, creepers and fungi: wild garlic, salsify, asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, sweet potatoes
    
7.  The vertical layer: Vines, Actinidia, akebia, hops, vegetables (cucurbits, runner beans), fruit trees (kiwi, yam, grapevine), edible flowering vines (passion fruit).
    

Embarking on a forest garden project
------------------------------------

How much does a forest garden cost? Making use of nurseries, grafts, sowing seeds, plant swaps and shared garden forests, things can be set up for little outlay. There are numerous resources available online to help create a garden forest, including forums, databases such as [“Plants For a Future”](https://pfaf.org/user/Default.aspx), botanists’ networks, smartphone applications to identify species such as “[PlantNet](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.plantnet&hl=fr&gl=US)”, and so on, to locate forest garden projects near you and share your experience, or to consult a map of forest gardens listed in France (or other countries).

### Making forest gardens more widespread

Could the restoration of forest ecosystems throughout the world also be achieved through individual initiatives?

With forest gardens, anyone with a piece of land or keen to promote replanting of areas of land is able to encourage forest growth. “Clearly, few of us have the capacity to restore forests ourselves. But tens of millions of us have gardens or access to open spaces such as brownfield sites, where trees can be planted. And if we can take full advantage of the potential that is available even in heavily built-up areas, new ‘urban forests’ can be grown…”, says Hart.

1.  Robin Hart: in 1960, he became one of the key exponents of the forest garden concept by creating a 5,000 m2 edible forest on his farm.
    
2.  Martin Crawford: he is an organic farmer and educator, and the author of numerous books on forest gardens
    
3.  CFDT national survey, “Let’s talk about work”: [https://analyse.parlonstravail.fr/](https://analyse.parlonstravail.fr/)

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What is a forest garden?

![Preparing the hole and planting the shrub](/uploads/plantation_saint_gatien_2022_2_6ea1c51f8a.jpg)
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Preparing the hole and planting the shrub
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### Ideal conditions for planting a tree

#### Where on the plot should you plant your tree?

The location of the tree should be chosen according to its spread and final size. To provide a sunny space for the tree to grow, it is advisable to locate the tree at a distance of 2 or more metres from any building. Concrete terraces, pipes and water tables should all be avoided, as they may be damaged.

#### When is the ideal planting period?

Deciduous species are planted between November and March. During this period, there is little sunlight (less than 10 hours of daylight a day) and the plants are at rest. While plant growth is on hold, the sap descends into the roots to help the plant take root and build up the resources needed for spring. The right planting time will also depend on the species’ tolerance to frost, flooding and drought.

#### Which species should we plant?

Nurseries produce a wide variety of fruit, forest and ornamental trees for replanting. Specialists are on hand there to advise on the suitability of the species according to plot size, soil type, climate and the desired characteristics. Some species are known to grow faster, such as lime, weeping willow or silver maple, but slower-growing fruit or flowering trees will also bring many other benefits.

Within the same group of species, native, threatened or rare species are ideal for enhancing the existing ecosystem. In this case, planting black pine, cork oak, or broad-leaved whitebeam can be an act of conservation and assisted migration1. A stand of mixed species will be healthier, and resilient species should be preferred as a way of coping with climate change.

While oaks and some conifers seem to deal better with heat, drought remains a major problem.

In addition, certain Mediterranean species will acclimatise better in more northerly areas or at higher altitudes. Genetically diverse plants will also increase the stand’s resistance to pests, diseases and extreme weather conditions.

How to plant a tree?
--------------------

### Preparing the hole

The young tree should be planted to the same depth as it was in the nursery. The hole should be dug to a depth of 50–60 cm and be three times the size of the root ball. To optimise soil drainage, the sides of the hole can be “broken up” using a pickaxe. Finally, a stake can be placed in the hole before introducing the plant, to support the growing tree.

### Planting the tree

Place the tree in the hole, taking care to ensure that the root ball remains below the surface. The soil added back into the hole can be loosened with potting soil, compost and organic fertiliser. Sand can also be added to improve soil drainage.

### Laying mulch

Mulch is made up of organic matter (wood shavings, straw, grass) and keeps competing vegetation down while preventing soil crusting after heavy rain. For two or three years, it will maintain suitable agronomic and climatic conditions for tree growth and ensure cool, moist soil.

### Protecting the trees

Many different factors threaten the growth of newly planted trees. To counter this, protective sleeves, tubes or fences can be installed to protect the tree from predators.

![Soil preparation before planting](/uploads/plantation_saint_gatien_2022_87a404dd21.jpg)

Preparing the soil before planting
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### Is planting a tree a good idea?

#### The benefits of planting a tree

Trees are powerful contributors to air purification and they harbour biodiversity. They protect crops from natural disturbances and provide islands of coolness. Planting a tree is therefore a way of investing in the future of your land and the ecosystem that thrives there. The impact of tree planting is significant on several counts.

*   Ecosystems: Tree planting also helps protect existing ecosystems. Trees help to protect the surrounding area from natural disturbances such as wind, floods or landslides. Once fallen, their leaves provide rich organic matter for soil fertility, crucial for the proper functioning of the forest ecosystem.
    
*   Carbon emissions: Due to their role as carbon sinks, trees store CO2 in the wood and soil, thereby helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Managed sustainably, trees are vital to the energy transition and fossil fuel reduction.
    
*   Biodiversity: Trees provide a refuge for biodiversity and also foster the natural development of its ecosystem. The common oak in particular plays a major role in harbouring fauna and flora, standing out from other native species because of this high hosting potential. Once planted, this species is home to a wide range of insects (more than 400 species of butterfly, 100 species of beetle, a dozen flies and wasps), birds, mammals, lichens and fungi.
    

### The limits to tree planting

Not all species are equal, and planting a tree can be counterproductive if the choice of site, species or forest management applied in the future forest stand are poorly adapted.

Some species are less resistant than others to drought or biotic hazards. An example of this is the Monchique forest stand in Portugal, where eucalyptus has played havoc with the environment and local communities. This highly flammable invasive species was introduced en masse in the 1950s to combat soil erosion and now covers a quarter of the country, but has significantly increased the fire risk. In artificial forests, planting non-native species can also deplete the ecosystem and endanger water supplies.

It is also worth questioning the usefulness of tree planting in the case of very large-scale projects. If applied on an excessive scale or as part of a monoculture system, tree planting can stray from the original aim of protecting and restoring existing natural ecosystems.

For example, in 2010 Ethiopia launched a large-scale planting programme called the [Green Legacy Initiative](http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/ethiopia-readies-for-2021-green-legacy-tree-planting-season/), with 350 million trees to be planted on a single day2.

These massive tree planting campaigns do not always achieve the hoped-for results: due to poor management, 75% of the seeds sown or trees planted failed to grow3.

Planting can therefore sometimes have limits. It is certainly true that trees help to capture carbon and thus combat global warming, but the approach can also have harmful consequences if poorly implemented. For trees to play a meaningful role in CO2 capture, they need to be planted in the right place, at the right time, managed in an appropriate and sustainable manner, and allowed to develop over a long life cycle.

Sources :

1.  [https://ged.fne.asso.fr/silverpeas/LinkFile/Key/eaf5f89d-7475-4758-adc2-e6e1f77390f1/PLANTFORET%20v4web\_ok.pdf](http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fged.fne.asso.fr%2Fsilverpeas%2FLinkFile%2FKey%2Feaf5f89d-7475-4758-adc2-e6e1f77390f1%2FPLANTFORET%2520v4web_ok.pdf&clen=4027975)
    
2.  [https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/07/ethiopia-has-planted-350-million-trees-in-a-day-to-tackle-deforestation-and-its-not-stopping-there/](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/07/ethiopia-has-planted-350-million-trees-in-a-day-to-tackle-deforestation-and-its-not-stopping-there/)
    
3.  [https://www.naturevolution.org/reboisement-opportunites-limitations/](https://www.naturevolution.org/reboisement-opportunites-limitations/)

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