**Defined by the IUCN in 2009, the concept of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) is founded on the idea that natural processes, and not just technological ones, can make a significant contribution to tackling major contemporary challenges such as climate change and biodiversity erosion. Nature provides vital services to all living things, and in particular to humankind. It is therefore essential to preserve, restore and manage it sustainably to ensure our future.**

![Nature-Based-Solutions-forest.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Nature_Based_Solutions_forest_f54ea0ac1f.jpg)

## What are Nature-based Solutions?

Nature-based Solutions are defined by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as “actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems to directly address societal challenges in an effective and adaptive manner, while ensuring human well-being and producing benefits for biodiversity.”

This concept was formulated by IUCN at the Copenhagen Conference in 2009, when forests were proposed as a solution for mitigating climate change. It was at COP21 in 2015 that the place of Nature-based Solutions in climate action was recognized by States, notably via the Paris Agreement.

These are actions that aim to protect, restore and sustainably manage natural ecosystems - be they forests, rivers, wetlands or even bocage meadows - in a logic of mutual benefit, since these ecosystems generate benefits for humanity. Nature-based Solutions also bring benefits for [biodiversity](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/what-biodiversity-definition-and-issues), by integrating this objective into the very design and implementation of these actions.

![EN_NbS.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/EN_Nb_S_775d13cbc8.jpg)

## How are ecosystems and human societies interconnected?

### A multitude of services to humanity

Ecosystems are multifunctional by nature. The variety of ecosystem functions they produce are not man-made, but the result of slow, patient work shaped by Nature over millions of years. Today, [natural ecosystems](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/reconnecting-living-sustainable-humanity) make vital contributions to people's lives, such as the production of food, energy and raw materials, as well as a multitude of ecosystem services. For example, forests store carbon, regulate the water cycle, limit local heat peaks, reduce the risk of soil runoff and landslides, and meet vital human needs such as the production of timber and energy, food and medicinal products, and places of well-being and recreation.

### Nature's services to human societies are not unlimited

The worldwide overexploitation of ecosystems leads to their degradation, and thus to their inability to provide resources in the long term. The Global Footprint Network's annual Earth Overshoot Day is a direct illustration of this idea. This date, which marks the day when humanity has consumed all the natural resources the Earth can produce in one year, is obtained by comparing mankind's ecological footprint (which measures the exploitation of the Earth's natural resources) with the planet's biocapacity (its capacity to replenish its reserves and absorb greenhouse gases). Still in surplus in 1961, with a quarter of its reserves unused, the Earth became in deficit in the early 1970s. This day was changed from October 10 in 1999 to August 1 in 2024.

In most regions of the world today, Nature has been significantly altered by multiple human factors, and the vast majority of indicators relating to ecosystems and biodiversity show a rapid decline. For example, the IPBES estimates that today :

- 75% of natural terrestrial environments are degraded;
- 66% of oceans have been altered;
- 85% of wetlands have disappeared;
- 5% of the world's animal and plant species are threatened.

Forests, which are home to 80% of the Earth's biodiversity and support 25% of the world's population, are in constant decline. On a global scale, forest area today represents around 68% of its estimated pre-industrial level. According to the FAO, 240 million hectares of forest were lost to deforestation in tropical zones between 1990 and 2015. In temperate zones, the effects of climate change are affecting forest health: 42% of tree species are now threatened with extinction in Europe, according to the IUCN. Forest animal biodiversity has fallen by [53%](https://www.dw.com/en/worlds-forest-animal-population-sinks-drastically-wwf-report/a-50015580) since 1970.

### Ecosystem degradation also weakens populations

Ecosystems, biodiversity and climate are interdependent. Ecosystems and their biodiversity influence climate, helping to regulate temperature and precipitation. They are essential players in the carbon, water and nitrogen cycles. They help absorb some of the heat and greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. These feedbacks between climate and biodiversity are at the origin of the dynamic balance of the environment in which human societies have developed, and which is today affected by both climate and ecosystem changes. Alterations to ecosystems and the climate-biodiversity pair make human beings more vulnerable, with the loss of food sources, the deterioration of water quality, the [development of new diseases](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/destruction-ecosystems-favours-rise-new-diseases-and-pandemics) and the exposure of societies to extreme climatic events (droughts, storms, etc.).

Strategies and actions to combat climate change must therefore not only drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also invest in protecting ecosystems. [Healthy ecosystems](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/ecosystem-restoration-essential-climate-and-biodiversity) not only help mitigate climate change, but also enable human societies to adapt to its consequences.

![Wooded hills with women's tree-planting communities](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Nature_based_solutions_communities_c9eebab421.jpg)

## Nature-based solutions for today's societal challenges

### Preserving nature is essential to ensure the future of human societies and businesses

According to the IUCN, the use of NbS would enable us to achieve current societal objectives such as :

- Reducing natural hazards
- Socio-economic development
- Food security
- Water and energy supply
- Health and well-being for all
- Adapting territories to climate change
- Mitigating the effects of climate change on populations (rising sea levels, fires, heatwaves...)

According to the IPBES, these natural solutions will account for 37% of the climate change mitigation measures needed by 2030 to achieve the goal of global warming below 2°C by 2100. But implementing NbS on the scale required to meet these societal challenges requires the involvement of all stakeholders, including private sector companies.

### Forests: a key component of Nature-based Solutions

NbS value the services provided by ecosystems that have been preserved, restored or sustainably managed, and are based on various underlying concepts listed by the IUCN. Among these Nature-based Solutions is the restoration of forest landscapes. This process aims to mobilize and involve local communities in restoring the multifunctionality of forests, in order to sustainably meet human needs. This type of project can be implemented through a variety of actions involving the preservation, restoration and sustainable management of forests. All these actions enhance forest biodiversity, and increase carbon capture, which helps mitigate the risks of climate change:
- Preservation of existing forests in good ecological condition
- Restoration of degraded forests or creation of forest ecosystems
- Adoption of sustainable forest management practices
- Creation of protected areas (national or regional parks, nature reserves, etc.) to protect associated territories and preserve ecosystem services
- Reforestation and ecological restoration of degraded forest habitats using adapted and diverse species, giving priority to indigenous species;
- Creation of hedgerows and [agroforestry systems](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/agroforestry) to regulate climate and the water cycle, conserve soil and create biological corridors for flora and fauna;
- Exclusion of unsustainable practices such as monospecific plantations, clear-cutting that weakens soils and overexploitation of stands;
- Development of [Assisted Natural Regeneration](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/assisted-natural-regeneration-complementary-solution-tree-planting-restore-degraded-forests);
- Creation of islands of senescence, made up of ageing trees which, as they decompose, promote the fertility of forest soils, the main reservoir of biodiversity in the forest;
- Promoting wood products from sustainably managed forests.

![Nature-based-solutions-overview.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Nature_based_solutions_overview_9e487805c8.jpg)

## Developing Nature-based Solutions with Reforest'Action

Reforest'Action offers Nature-based Solutions that enable companies to:
- Contribute to [global carbon neutrality](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/carbon-neutrality-solutions)
- Develop [regenerative agriculture](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/regenerative-agriculture) within their value chains 
- Support the [restoration of forest ecosystems](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/ecosystems-restoration) 

Our mission: to regenerate terrestrial ecosystems on a large scale to meet global environmental challenges and support corporate climate and transformation strategies, drawing on our field experience, local communities, research and technology. 

Today, our 1,650 forest and agroforestry projects in 45 countries are creating multiple impacts, based on the stability of ecosystems over time, to combat climate change, protect biodiversity and support local communities. Each project financed by Reforest'Action is thus at the heart of global climate action and Nature-based Solutions. 

At the heart of our approach, monitoring the impact of our projects via our [Research & Development team](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/the-impact) also enables us to optimize their results and deliver reliable and transparent data to investors, by means of key performance indicators, regarding the value generated by our Nature-based Solutions.


**Drawing on the role of healthy ecosystems for human life and the well-being of all, Nature-based Solutions address both climate and biodiversity issues. It is crucial to encourage their development at all scales to meet the Sustainable Development Goals formulated by the UN, and to direct more funds towards restoration in order to act more rapidly and effectively in favor of the climate and biodiversity at the service of all Living Things. If you're interested in Nature-based Solutions, and forestry in particular, please [contact us](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/contact).**



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What are Nature-based Solutions?

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

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

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

### Chestnut trees in the Mediterranean region

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

## A project design adapted to local conditions

### Modifying grazing practices to better respect the ecosystem

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

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

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

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

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

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

### Supporting the regeneration and expansion of chestnut groves 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Within these plots, a manual count is then carried out by the Reforest'Action project manager, who records the number of living and dead trees, the species observed and the potential presence of natural regeneration. Each type of project (forestry or agroforestry projects, urban micro-forestry projects, Assisted Natural Regeneration projects or Low-Carbon label projects) has its own monitoring protocol defined by Reforest'Action.  
 
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### What are the results of field monitoring in 2023?
 
In 2023, field audits took place from April to November. For all 204 projects visited by Reforest'Action in Europe during this period, the average recovery rate was 88.43%.
 
#### 90% of projects validated

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

## Ecocert Environnement certification

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

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

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

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

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

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KEVIN MURPHY

2020-2021_Anglès 2 (81)_France

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Douglas

Hêtre commun

Mélèze hybride

Ces 3 délaissés forestiers de 6,61 hectares se trouvent au sein du département du Tarn, dans le parc naturel régional du Haut-Languedoc. Géré en monoculture, ce peuplement d’épicéas est particulièrement sensible aux maladies et aux ravageurs. Preuve en est, la forêt a dû subir une récolte sanitaire suite à la propagation de fomès et de scolytes qui a conduit au dépérissement des spécimens attaqués. Ce projet se base sur la conservation des jeunes plants issus de la régénération naturelle de la forêt, le projet prévoit aussi de diversifier les essences plantées. Ces nouvelles essences, adaptées à la station, permettront au peuplement de faire face aux évolutions climatiques et de limiter les conséquences des aléas climatiques et biologiques. Cette démarche permettra en outre d’accroître la valeur environnementale des parcelles grâce au développement d’une riche biodiversité et du stockage de carbone par les arbres.

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

Preservation of local biodiversity by providing suitable habitats and resources.

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

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

These 3 forest wastelands covering 6.61 hectares are located in the Tarn department, in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park. Managed as a monoculture, this spruce stand is particularly susceptible to disease and pests. As evidence of this, the forest had to undergo a sanitary harvest following the spread of fomites and bark beetles, which led to the decay of the attacked specimens. The project is based on the conservation of young seedlings from the forest's natural regeneration, as well as diversifying the species planted. These new species, adapted to the site, will enable the stand to cope with climatic changes and limit the consequences of climatic and biological hazards. This approach will also enhance the environmental value of the plots through the development of rich biodiversity and carbon storage by the trees.

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Sapin de Bornmuller

Érable sycomore

Châtaignier

Pin maritime

Cèdre de l'Atlas

Au cœur de la Saône-et-Loire, les parcelles à boiser sont d'anciennes parcelles agricoles abandonnées depuis des années. Des vaches ayant brouté les régénérations naturels, il n'y a pas d'arbres d'avenir, il ne reste que quelques tiges tordues. Sur les terrains orientés Est, cette plantation de 6 essences nouvelles permettra d'étudier le comportement et l'adaptation de celles-ci sur le sol face à l'évolution thermique du climat d'ici une dizaine d'années. Cela va nous aider à déterminer quelles essences sont les plus adaptées à la station et résistantes aux aléas climatiques et biologiques à venir. Ce projet stockera du carbone à terme, et le fait que plus de haies taillées « en brosse » par les agriculteurs soient présentes permettra aux oiseaux de nicher à nouveau en sécurité. La réduction des inondations par les flux brutaux de pluie et la production raisonnée de bois d'oeuvre seront des facteurs également favorisés par ce projet.

In the heart of the Saône-et-Loire department, the plots to be afforested are former agricultural plots that have been abandoned for years. Cows have grazed the natural regenerations, so there are no trees with any future, just a few twisted stems. On the east-facing land, this planting of 6 new species will enable us to study their behavior and adaptation to the soil in the face of thermal climate change over the next ten years or so. This will help us determine which species are best suited to the site and resistant to future climatic and biological hazards. The project will also store carbon in the long term, and the fact that more of the hedgerows pruned by farmers will be present will mean that birds will once again be able to nest in safety. Reducing flooding caused by sudden rainfall and the rational production of timber will also benefit from this project.

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Chêne pédonculé

Chêne sessile (rouvre)

Merisier

Tilleul à petites feuilles

Alisier torminal

Noisetier commun

Érable plane

Pin sylvestre

Le projet vise à restaurer, diversifier et améliorer la qualité ce cette forêt qui peine à se régénérer naturellement.
Ce massif forestier se situe à Rowland Castle dans le Hampshire non loin de Portsmouth et de son littoral. La forêt est gérée par une fondation et très fortement fréquentée par le public.
Les peuplements du domaine sont majoritairement constitués de frênes, de chênes et de châtaigniers. De nombreux frênes ont péri à cause du champignon "chalara fraxinea" qui sévit en Europe. Les arbres atteints sont prélevés petit à petit afin de ne pas bouleverser le milieu. Les trouées ainsi laissées permettront à la régénération naturelle d’apparaître et d’être accompagnée par les travaux sylvicoles à venir. Dans les zones les plus difficiles, des enrichissements sont effectués avec la plantation d’espèces natives et résilientes. Les arbres sont protégés individuellement car il y a une forte densité de cervidés sur place.

GOOD_HEALTH_AND_WELL_BEING

CLEAN_WATER_AND_SANITATION

DECENT_WORK_AND_ECONOMIC_GROWTH

CLIMATE_ACTION

LIFE_ON_LAND

PARTNERSHIP_FOR_THE_GOALS

The Stanstead forest covers 1,600 hectares and has been affected by successive storms, diseases and pests, and is now weakened. Oaks and chestnuts make up the bulk of the stand. The stand is currently suffering from chalarosis, a disease that attacks ash trees. As for the seedlings, they are struggling to regenerate under the pressure of game. In order to restore the forest, planting and natural regeneration are being undertaken. A variety of adapted tree species are being planted. At the same time, work is being carried out on seedlings to support regeneration. To protect the trees from deer, tree guards are installed. Eventually, the Stanstead forest will be able to fulfil its environmental, landscape, social and economic functions.

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Érable champêtre

Pommier franc

Charme commun

Chêne chevelu

Chêne pubescent

Dans le Pays de la Loire, ce projet regroupe plusieurs projets concomitants. Les propriétaires de trois parcelles voisines souhaitent réaliser un boisement ensemble. L'objectif est ici de rétablir un couvert forestier sur d'anciennes parcelles agricoles et de les valoriser grâce à un boisement. La démarche permettra d’enrichir le maillage paysagé dans le département de la Loire-Atlantique, très agricole et peu boisé. L'ensemble boisé sera cohérent et diversifié grâce à l’introduction de 9 essences feuillues et résineuse. À terme, ce peuplement fortifié par 10 100 arbres permettra de développer des micro-habitats pour l’accueil de la biodiversité, et contribuera efficacement à la lutte contre le changement climatique grâce au carbone stocké par les arbres. Enfin, les arbres plantés assureront également une continuité forestière sur la zone.

In the Pays de la Loire region, this project brings together several concurrent projects. The owners of three adjoining plots of land wish to create an afforestation project together. The aim is to re-establish forest cover on former agricultural plots and enhance their value through afforestation. This approach will enrich the landscape network in the Loire-Atlantique department, which is highly agricultural and sparsely wooded. The wooded ensemble will be coherent and diversified thanks to the introduction of 9 deciduous and resinous species. Ultimately, this fortified stand of 10,300 trees will develop micro-habitats to host biodiversity, and make an effective contribution to combating climate change thanks to the carbon stored by the trees. Finally, the trees planted will also ensure forest continuity in the area.

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Chêne

Frêne commun

Peuplier tremble

Bouleau pubescent

Le projet vise à restaurer, diversifier et améliorer la qualité de cette forêt qui a été fortement touchée par la chalarose du frêne.
Dans les trouées laissées par les frênes malades qui ont été récoltés, plusieurs essences indigènes feuillues sont replantées ce qui améliorera la résilience du peuplement et la biodiversité. Les espèces choisies seront également résistantes aux maladies et au changement climatique.
Sur les autres zones du projet notamment ou il y a eu une absence de gestion, les arbres et essences d’avenirs seront sélectionnés et entretenus sur le long terme.
L’objectif global et de diversifier et solidifier la structure des différentes strates de cette forêt.
D’autres part, le long des chemins de circulation, de larges bandes enherbées sont laissées afin de favoriser certaines espèces herbacées qui attire de nombreux insectes.

Appleton Forest is located around 5 miles west of Abingdon in Oxfordshire. Covering an area of around 100 hectares, the forest consists of a mixture of mature and semi-mature oak and ash. Many areas of the forest are pure ash. Other species include a deciduous mix of birch, willow and alder with a dense understory of blackthorn and some hazel. The forest is officially classified as an "ancient and semi-natural forest", and half of its surface area is also classified as a "site of special scientific interest", which places the forest's management on a sustainable footing. The forest is frequented by a "Bushcraft" forestry school, which teaches survival and outdoor skills to young visitors.

The project aims to restore, diversify and improve the quality of this forest, which has been severely affected by ash blight.
In the gaps left by the diseased ash trees that have been harvested, several native hardwood species are being replanted, which will improve stand resilience and biodiversity. The species chosen will also be resistant to disease and climate change.
In other areas of the project, particularly where there has been no management, future trees and species will be selected and maintained over the long term.
The overall aim is to diversify and solidify the structure of the different strata of this forest.
In addition, wide grassy strips are left along the footpaths to encourage certain herbaceous species that attract numerous insects.

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Houx commun

Nerprun purgatif

Aubépine petites feuilles

Pommier sauvage

Églantier

Prunellier

Cerisier à grappes

Viorne obier

Bourdaine

Fusain d'Europe

Chèvrefeuille des bois

Sorbier des oiseleurs

Ce projet de reboisement et de reconstitution du paysage vise à restaurer et à préserver les écosystèmes locaux tout en favorisant la biodiversité et la durabilité environnementale. Sur les 5 hectares de terres agricoles, 12 000 arbres seront plantés, avec une prédominance de chênes entourés d'essences champêtres telles que le prunellier, l'aubépine, le pommier sauvage, le sorbier des oiseleurs,etc. Ces arbustes épineux sont essentiels pour protéger les jeunes chênes naturellement présents sur le site, en fournissant un habitat propice à leur croissance et à leur développement. Parallèlement, des haies seront érigées pour reconstituer le bocage local, elles comprendront une grande diversité d'espèces. Cette variété végétale contribuera à restaurer la structure parcellaire typique de la région tout en offrant un habitat vital pour la faune locale.

The Lowther Estate is located on the edge of the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, mainly due to its agro-pastoral land-use system. The heart of the project lies in the planting of trees and the creation of hedgerows, two crucial actions to restore and protect the landscape.

This reforestation and landscape reconstitution project aims to restore and preserve local ecosystems while promoting biodiversity and environmental sustainability. On the 5 hectares of farmland, 12,000 trees will be planted, with a predominance of oaks surrounded by country species such as blackthorn, hawthorn, wild apple, bird's sorb, etc. These thorny shrubs are essential to protect the young oaks, which will be planted in the future. These thorny shrubs are essential to protect the young oaks naturally present on the site, providing a suitable habitat for their growth and development. At the same time, hedges will be planted to restore the local bocage, and will include a wide variety of species. This plant variety will help restore the typical plot structure of the region, while providing a vital habitat for local wildlife.

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Peuplier

Bouleau

Ce projet se situe à Lekhampstead au Royaume-Uni, il fait l’objet d’un projet de régénération naturelle assistée (RNA). Ce mode de gestion douce permet de valoriser la forêt existante pour lui permettre de s’adapter au changement climatique. Précédemment peuplée de frênes chalarosés, la zone de 38,6 hectares sera diversifiée grâce à la plantation d’une multitude d’essences minoritaires via l’enrichissement aux endroits nécessaires. De plus, la zone était confrontée à une forte pression du gibier ainsi qu'un manque de semencier, ce qui a entravé la capacité de ce massif se régénérer. Des travaux sylvicoles seront conduits en parallèle comme des débroussaillages de la végétation concurrente aux semis. Cette démarche permettra de préserver le massif, de sécuriser la présence de la biodiversité sur la parcelle, améliorer la résilience et résistance de la forêt via la diversification. Enfin, permettre aux arbres de séquestrer du CO2 sur la durée.

Management of this forest has been somewhat deficient in recent years, which has not only hampered the regeneration of stands but also unbalanced the diversity of species present. In addition, strong pressure from game and a lack of seeds have further hampered the forest's ability to regenerate. Many ash trees are also subject to chalarosis. There is therefore an urgent need to support the natural regeneration of the stands, while at the same time increasing diversity through enrichment. Thanks to the presence of grassed strips along the paths, numerous habitats for biodiversity are present, notably for butterflies.

This project is located in Lekhampstead in the United Kingdom, and is part of an assisted natural regeneration (ANR) project. This gentle management method enhances the existing forest to help it adapt to climate change. Previously populated by chalarose ash, the 38.6-hectare area will be diversified by planting a multitude of minority species through enrichment where necessary. In addition, the area was subject to heavy game pressure and a lack of seeds, which hampered the massif's ability to regenerate. In parallel, silvicultural work will be carried out, such as clearing the vegetation competing with the seedlings. This approach will help preserve the massif, secure the presence of biodiversity on the plot, and improve the forest's resilience and resistance through diversification. Finally, it will enable the trees to store CO2 in the long run.

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