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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Within these plots, a manual count is then carried out by the Reforest'Action project manager, who records the number of living and dead trees, the species observed and the potential presence of natural regeneration. Each type of project (forestry or agroforestry projects, urban micro-forestry projects, Assisted Natural Regeneration projects or Low-Carbon label projects) has its own monitoring protocol defined by Reforest'Action.  
 
![Suivi-terrain_Maine-et-loire_2023_ReforestAction-08.jpg](/uploads/Suivi_terrain_Maine_et_loire_2023_Reforest_Action_08_2c38dd64d5.jpg)

### What are the results of field monitoring in 2023?
 
In 2023, field audits took place from April to November. For all 204 projects visited by Reforest'Action in Europe during this period, the average recovery rate was 88.43%.
 
#### 90% of projects validated

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

## Ecocert Environnement certification

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

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

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

Ecocert Environnement also carries out an administrative review of projects and their management, which includes checking forest owners' commitments, invoices for plant purchases and certificates of origin.
 
![Suivi_terrain_Saint-Jean-Chambre_Reforestaction-05.jpg](/uploads/Suivi_terrain_Saint_Jean_Chambre_Reforestaction_05_33a2f1dc67.jpg)

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

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

**While a quarter of all known plant and animal species are now endangered, initiatives continue to develop to help preserve them. Among these, The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) is the only international standard to recognize and encourage the protection, restoration and enhancement of biodiversity. As part of the TGBS technical and scientific network, Reforest'Action contributes its expertise in forest ecosystem restoration and impact measurement to develop remote sensing monitoring tools, particularly for assessing plant biodiversity.**
 
![Global-Biodiversity-Standard-0.jpg](/uploads/Global_Biodiversity_Standard_0_2bb73c5ee0.jpg)

## Global biodiversity under threat
 
With a quarter of known plant and animal species now on the brink of extinction, biodiversity loss is one of the top five global risks to society over the next ten years, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Risk Report 2023. Synonymous with biological diversity, biodiversity encompasses the taxonomic, functional and structural diversity of living species. Through the ecological services it provides, biodiversity is essential to maintaining the integrity and resilience of ecosystems. 

Among the main indicators of global biodiversity loss, the decline in the extent of forests underlines their essential role as reservoirs of terrestrial biodiversity when they were the native ecosystem in place. They are home to over 80% of the planet's known terrestrial species. In this respect, a better understanding and preservation of forest biodiversity is essential to help halt the onset of the sixth mass extinction.
 
![Global-Biodiversity-Standard-1.jpg](/uploads/Global_Biodiversity_Standard_1_4d330f21cc.jpg)

## The creation of an international standard dedicated to biodiversity
 
### The ambition of the Global Biodiversity Standard

Introduced in 2022, [The Global Biodiversity Standard](https://www.biodiversitystandard.org/) (TGBS) is the only international standard to recognize and encourage the protection, restoration and enhancement of biodiversity. Against a backdrop of increasing numbers of forest creation and restoration projects, this standard aims to develop best practices for creating positive impacts on biodiversity, notably by diversifying tree communities and integrating native species into project design. In the long term, The Global Biodiversity Standard hopes to place biodiversity at the heart of all initiatives that help combat climate change and develop the livelihoods of local communities.
 
### Towards the certification of projects based on the restoration and protection of biodiversity

Based on an international scientific and technical network that includes IUCN & Botanic Garden Conservation International, CIFOR-ICRAF, Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew), Society for Ecological Restoration and Reforest'Action, The Global Biodiversity Standard is currently testing its certification method in real-life conditions, in collaboration with botanical gardens in India, Kenya, Peru, Brazil, Madagascar, Uganda, Malaysia, Jordan and Hong Kong. 

Projects submitted for The Global Biodiversity Standard certification will be assessed against criteria derived from the “10 Golden Rules for Reforestation”. This scientific paper, promulgated by Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew) and Botanic Garden Conservation International, provides guidance on how to ensure that reforestation projects promote biodiversity restoration, carbon sequestration and the creation of socio-economic benefits for local communities. 

Projects certified by The Global Biodiversity Standard must:
- Select appropriate sites to enhance native biodiversity.
- Enhance protection of existing habitats and biodiversity.
- Protect, restore and manage biodiversity in consultation and partnership with local communities and other stakeholders.
- Aim to maximise biodiversity recovery through ecosystem restoration.
- Avoid and reduce invasive or potentially invasive species.
- Prioritise the use of native, threatened and rare species.
- Promote biodiversity and adaptive capacity.
- Implement robust monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management of biodiversity.
 
 ![Global-Biodiversity-Standard-2.jpg](/uploads/Global_Biodiversity_Standard_2_0ed75a2841.jpg)
 
## Reforest'Action's role in The Global Biodiversity Standard
 
### The contribution to remote sensing of forest biodiversity assessment

As part of The Global Biodiversity Standard's technical and scientific network, Reforest'Action brings its expertise in forest ecosystem restoration and impact measurement to the development of remote sensing monitoring tools. Reforest'Action offers The Global Biodiversity Standard a catalog of tools dedicated to remote sensing measurements. These measurements are carried out both upstream of project implementation, and downstream, as part of project monitoring. 

While tree species diversity has traditionally been assessed through field studies using samples from selected plots, this process is time-consuming and costly for large-scale analysis. Today, remote sensing provides new ways of monitoring vegetation biodiversity, offering the possibility of generating data sets to track environmental changes over the long term. This remote monitoring makes it possible to detect changes taking place within the forest cover, and thus to refine field sampling, in order to prioritize studies within areas that appear to be experiencing more or less positive evolution than others. As a complement to remote sensing, field monitoring remains essential for its accuracy, its ability to validate remote monitoring data and to calibrate the latter by providing real data to refine analyses.
 
### A tool for mapping tree species diversity in canopies

Among the catalog of tools offered by Reforest'Action to The Global Biodiversity Standard, Reforest'Action's Impact Department is collaborating directly with the standard to develop a tool dedicated to mapping the diversity of tree species within canopies. Based on a concept developed by J.-B. Féret and G. P. Asner (2014) and powered by images from Sentinel-2, a satellite in the European Space Agency's Copernicus program, the methodology and tool, re-appropriated by Reforest'Action, enables analysis of the spatial distribution of spectral species, those vegetation zones that include one or more plant species with a similar spectral signature. 

In other words, the tool can be used to assess the diversity of species within a given plot by grouping them into categories known as “spectral species”, based on their physical and biochemical properties (physiological state, water and pigment content, etc.). “Initially, we were looking for a way to measure spatial (within a project area) and temporal (over time) changes in forest stand diversity using remote sensing, in order to better guide sampling during field surveys,” explains Richard Sourbès, Reforest'Action's impact manager. “Based on the method developed by J.-B. Féret and G. P. Asner, we have developed our own tool with innovations that enable us to further refine our remote and field monitoring. While this tool has been used so far mainly in the field of research, Reforest'Action is now applying it for the first time to the operational monitoring of forest restoration projects. This innovative approach is in line with the more general use of remote sensing in the development of our forestry projects - from the design phase through to monitoring.”
 
### A field mission led by Reforest'Action to refine the tool and methodology

During a mission carried out in February 2024 as part of an international workshop organized by The Global Biodiversity Standard, a team from Reforest'Action's Impact Unit travelled to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to compare estimated remote sensing data with data collected in the field, particularly in terms of tree species diversity in the canopy. “The aim of this mission was to compare the estimate given by satellite imagery with observation in the field, in order to verify their correlation and refine our methodology and tool”, continues Richard Sourbès. “In concrete terms, our experiments in some twenty forest and agroforestry plots demonstrated a strong relationship between the distribution of spectral tree species and that of tree species actually observed in the field.” 

This field mission showed encouraging results in terms of the relevance of monitoring spectral species as a proxy for plant diversity in the canopy. The increasing number of projects monitored using this method will enable us to improve its accuracy in the future, by adapting it to the different stages of maturity and types of forest studied by Reforest'Action. 

Ultimately, this tool should enable us to better control the evolution of our remote sensing projects, so as to optimize our field monitoring missions. It also aims to provide a better understanding of the factors influencing plant diversity and its evolution over time, so as to be able to propose corrective measures as soon as a negative evolution is detected (for example, the presence of an invasive species). Ultimately, this tool will strengthen the adaptive management of our projects and ensure the long-term survival of forest ecosystems.  

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

_To find out more about the spectral species method developed by Reforest'Action, read our dedicated article: “[Spectral species: an innovative method for studying plant biodiversity from space](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/spectral-species-monitoring-plant-biodiversity-from-space)”._


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Monitoring biodiversity to better preserve it: Reforest'Action's expertise at the service of The Global Biodiversity Standard

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

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

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

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

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

## The spectral species method

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Adolfo Domínguez is an author firm founded in 1976 in Ourense (Spain). It is committed to filling wardrobes with common sense through clothing that outlasts fashion trends. Their creative and environmentally committed designs celebrate freedom and universal beauty. This identical philosophy is transferred to its line of perfumes, which propose an essential journey through the senses. 

PUIG

Restaurer les écosystèmes terrestres à grande échelle en recréant les meilleures conditions pour leur permettre d’être stable dans la durée dans un contexte climatique et sociétal en pleine transformation.

En savoir plus sur la mission de Reforest'Action

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Juan-Carlos, the project implementer, and his wife 
Photo by Florian Pupat 

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Palo de Tinto shoots
Photo by Florian Pupat 

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Palo de Tinto wood, also known as "logwood", whose red fibers produce a black ink 
Photo by Florian Pupat 

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Sapotiller

Bois bleu

Enterolobium cyclocarpum

Albizia guachapele

Brosimum alicastrum

Texas palmetto

Attalea butyracea

Muntingia calabura

Poirier rouge

Orme d'Amerique

Platymiscium yucatanum

Mombin jaune

Reforest'Action is partnering with Planalto to restore "El Tintal", by planting 160 000 trees over 2 years and to establish a conservation area on former degraded agricultural lands. This approach will help replant native species of the region in order to reconstitute resilient ecosystems that will act as carbon sinks, but also to restore the multifunctionality of the spaces concerned.

NO_POVERTY

GOOD_HEALTH_AND_WELL_BEING

AFFORDABLE_AND_CLEAN_ENERGY

DECENT_WORK_AND_ECONOMIC_GROWTH

INDUSTRY_INNOVATION_AND_INFRASTRUCTURE

SUSTAINABLE_CITIES_AND_COMMUNITIES

RESPONSIBLE_CONSUMPTION_AND_PRODUCTION

CLIMATE_ACTION

LIFE_BELOW_WATER

LIFE_ON_LAND

PARTNERSHIP_FOR_THE_GOALS

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

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

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.

The project developed by our partner is part of the Laguna de Términos protected area, in the Mexican state of Campeche. The lagoon has been recognized as an area of high importance since 1994 by the Mexican government because of the richness of the biological ecosystems found in its estuaries. They are home to more than 130 species of mammals including the jaguar, today classified as “near threatened”. Between land and sea, the Tintal defines the ecosystem in which the Palo de Tinto, or logwood, grows within the lagoon. Emblematic of the Yucatán Peninsula, the Tintal has been severely degraded by human activities after the independence of Mexico: currently, nearly 80% of the Campeche state's land has been converted into grazing areas for cattle ranching or into crops for palm oil export. The project aims to restore this unique ecosystem.

Planalto is a rural production company located in the state of Campeche, one of the administrative divisions that make up the Yucatán Peninsula. As a productive and responsible business model, it works to implement forestry and permaculture practices in rural areas, emphasizing the use of native species and natural treatment products. Doing so, it helps promote a multifunctional reforestation model that benefits both the environment and the local communities, mainly composed of producers. During the project, Planalto will supervise the implementation of the selected seedlings in nurseries, the preparation of the soil, the planting sessions as well as the maintenance and monitoring of the planted trees.

Reforest'Action is partnering with the company Planalto to restore "El Tintal" ecosystem and to establish a conservation area for biodiversity. This multi-faceted project is located near the town of Palizada, southwest of the Mexican state of Campeche and concerns two areas located side by side. 

On the one hand, the project implementer Juan-Carlos is working to regenerate the Tintal by planting Palo de Tinto on the degraded pastures of his ranch. Palo de Tinto, also known as "logwood", is a small thorny tree from Mexico whose dark red fibers produce a black ink used for dyeing clothes and hair. Through the transformation of wood chip residues, the project aims to create its own circular bioeconomy system. 

On the other hand, Juan-Carlos has established a conservation area in the untouched jungle, with a dedicated area of 350 hectares that will serve as a refuge for native animal species such as the jaguar.

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Landscape of the project, Veracruz state, Mexico 

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Acajou cédrel

Tabebuia rosea-alba

Cocotier

Spondias radlkoferi

Vanille

Zapote Mamey

Pacific Coast mahogany

Margouzier

Cannelier de Ceylan

Tamarinier d'Inde

Cardamone

Tapirira mexicana

Cèdre rose

Casearia laetioides

Manguier

Gliciridia

Kapokier

Quatre-épices

Erythrina americana

Cacaoyer

Heliocarpus appendiculatus

Reforest'Action is partnering with Asociación Mexicana de Bosques Comestibles (AMEBOSCO) to develop agroforestry to restore degraded ecosystems in Veracruz State in Mexico. The aim is to train local farmers to include trees as an integral part of their agriculture through the creation of agroforestry systems. Not only fruit trees, but also species endemic to the region or that generate additional income (including vanilla and pepper) are planted in agroforestry on the farmers' plots. This approach will help protect the underlying crops and increase the food security of the population.

The northern part of the state of Veracruz is one of the most deforested areas in Mexico. Over the past 50 years, nearly 92% of the forests have been destroyed to create agricultural land dedicated to intensive livestock and citrus production, an approach that resulted in a dramatic loss of biodiversity. In the context of climate change that favors the multiplication and intensity of cyclones as well as droughts, the restoration of forest covers is a key issue for the health of the various ecosystems and the resilience of populations. Besides, Mexico is one of the largest vanilla producing countries in the world. In the state of Veracruz, where the flower was first discovered, local and artisanal vanilla production is threatened by competition coming from intensive production and a precarious economic situation.

The Mexican Association for Edible Forests (AMEBOSCO) promotes diverse and profitable agroforestry models in Mexico based on traditional knowledge and community bonds. The association implements alternative economic and agricultural systems to industrial agricultural production. The restoration and environmental awareness actions carried out by AMBOSCO are aimed at creating producers' cooperatives committed to organic farming. The NGO therefore supports farmers in managing their plots and in obtaining organic certification.

Reforest'Action is partnering with AMEBOSCO to develop agroforestry in order to restore degraded ecosystems in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The project aims at planting various species in agroforestry within degraded agricultural lands owned by traditional vanilla producers, who are tempted to turn to more profitable crops. At the same time, a sustainable agriculture model based on the marketing of products derived from the agroecosystems thus implemented, including artisanal vanilla production, is being developed. The project also aims to produce and conserve native tree species such as white cedar or ceiba by collecting endemic seeds from existing forests. These seeds are then cultivated in nurseries before being integrated into agroforestry plots within the vanilla fields. Local communities’ environmental awareness is raised, and populations are encouraged to preserve the various native species within the farmland.

2022-2023_Belorado_Espagne

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Pin d'Alep

Amandier

Pin parasol

Pin noir

Cormier

Chêne faginé

Aubépine petites feuilles

Ce projet vise à restaurer des zones de végétation dégradée et à étendre le couvert forestier.
Les zones incendiées se situent dans les pentes où il est impossible de mettre en place une culture agricole classique. Les zones qui vont être boisées sont des cultures abandonnées. En effet la région subi très fortement l’exode rural qui pousse les populations vers les grandes villes.
De plus, les changements climatiques en cours, avec des phénomènes extrêmes et récurrents comme les sècheresses et les canicules accentue le phénomène de désertification en cours dans la région. Le boisement et reboisement de ces parcelles situées en pleine zone agricole revêt alors un intérêt environnement majeur. Il permettra à la faune et à la flore locale de trouver un nouveau refuge tout en permettant aux exploitations agricoles voisines de profiter des bénéfices de l’écosystème forestier (biodiversité, sols maintenus et température et humidité du sol régulés).

CLEAN_WATER_AND_SANITATION

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

Located in northern Spain, Belorado lies at the heart of a large agricultural region. Droughts, heat waves and increasingly frequent fires are intensifying soil degradation and undermining existing agriculture. Tree planting represents a source of work for farmers, helping to limit the rural exodus.

This project aims to restore degraded vegetation and extend forest cover.
The burnt areas are located on slopes where it is impossible to establish conventional agricultural cultivation. The areas to be afforested are abandoned crops. In fact, the region has been hit hard by the rural exodus that is pushing people towards the big cities.
What's more, ongoing climate change, with recurrent extreme phenomena such as droughts and heatwaves, is accentuating the desertification underway in the region. The afforestation and reforestation of these plots, located in the middle of an agricultural zone, is therefore of major environmental interest. It will provide a new refuge for local flora and fauna, while enabling neighboring farms to enjoy the benefits of the forest ecosystem (biodiversity, soil conservation and regulated soil temperature and humidity).

2023-2024_Abaurrea Alta_Espagne

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Douglas

Epicéa commun

Mélèze hybride

Ce projet vise à remettre en production un sol forestier de haute qualité via la restauration d’un écosystème forestier ayant dépéri à la suite de maladies et de violentes chutes de neige. Les ressources qu’offre cette forêt sont parfaitement adaptées au secteur primaire (élevage et forêts). Le peuplement planté sera formé de trois essences qui produiront un bois de qualité et soutiendront l’économie et l’emploi local.

Situated in the heart of the Pyrenees on the Navarrese side, this public forest is currently experiencing a number of die-offs due to disease and violent storms. An integral part of the Sierra de Artxuga, Zarikieta and Montes de Areta conservation area, it is home to numerous species of animals, plants and fungi, many of which are endangered.

The aim of this project is to bring a high-quality forest floor back into production by restoring a forest ecosystem that has withered as a result of disease and heavy snowfalls. The resources offered by this forest are perfectly suited to the primary sector (livestock and forestry). The planted stand will be made up of three species that will produce quality wood and support the local economy and employment.

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Aubépine

Ce projet vise à restaurer des zones de végétation dégradée et à étendre le couvert forestier.
Les zones incendiées se situent dans les pentes où il est impossible de mettre en place une culture agricole classique. Les zones qui vont être boisée sont des cultures abandonnées. En effet la région subi très fortement l’exode rural qui pousse les populations vers les grandes villes.
De plus, les changements climatiques en cours, avec des phénomènes extrêmes et récurrents comme les sècheresses et les canicules accentue le phénomène de désertification en cours dans la région. Le boisement et reboisement de ces parcelles situées en pleine zone agricole revêt alors un intérêt environnement majeur. Il permettra à la faune et à la flore locale de trouver un nouveau refuge tout en permettant aux exploitations agricoles voisines de profiter des bénéfices de l’écosystème forestier biodiversité, sols maintenus et température et humidité du sol régulés.

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Il s’agit ici de restaurer et maintenir un écosystème unique, les Dehesa qui sont des espaces agroforestiers typique de certaines régions d’Espagne et du Portugal. Beaucoup de ces chênes lièges sont âgés de 150 à 200 ans. En raison de leur grand âge, ils sont sont souvent l'hôte d'un insecte qui pond ses œufs dans leur écorce et les fait mourir progressivement. Ces arbres doivent donc être remplacés et le peuplement densifié pour en assurer la pérennité. Entre les chênes adultes encore présents, de nouveaux chênes-lièges seront plantés dans les trouées disponibles. Ce projet est le fruit d'une collaboration entre plusieurs propriétaires et gestionnaires forestiers de la région, la police de la biodiversité locale, Media Ambiente ainsi que l'université de Cordoba. Si le projet est un succès, sa méthodologie pourra être déployé dans d'autres régions d'Espagne.

Bénéfices estimés des arbres plantés ou préservés

En savoir plus sur la mission de Reforest'Action

Actualités de Reforest'Action

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

Monitoring biodiversity to better preserve it: Reforest'Action's expertise at the service of The Global Biodiversity Standard

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