10 Golden Rules for Reforestation
Explore our rules for reforestation to optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and livelihood benefits
Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)
Mauritius (2019-10-14) by Global Trees CampaignBotanic Gardens Conservation International
Many tree species
There are around 58,000 tree species in the world. These are spread out across a myriad of ecosystems containing countless other organisms, ranging from the tiniest bacterium to the mightiest moose.
Between these ecosystem components exist startlingly complex relationships that we're only just beginning to understand.
Factoring in humans makes the matter more complex
Around 2 billion people rely on forests for work, food, shelter, and water. And of course, trees play a massive role in sequestering carbon from our atmosphere.
It's no surprise that we need to plant trees
There are a healthy number of tree planting initiatives around the globe. However, it's important that we establish a set of best practices to get the most out of the resources that we put into restoring forests.
Mulanje cedar (Widdringtonia whytei) seedlings ready for planting by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)Botanic Gardens Conservation International
10 Golden Rules
With our colleagues at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and our partners from around the world BGCI developed a list of “10 Golden Rules” to improve tree planting efforts in terms of carbon sequestration, biodiversity and human livelihoods.
1. Protect Existing Forest First
Each year the world loses an area of forest equal to the size of the United Kingdom. This means less carbon is sequestered. In many cases, more carbon dioxide emissions are released. Old growth forests are massive carbon sinks, and it can take hundreds of years for them to fully recover.
A crucial first step
A crucial first step to preserve trees around the world is to simply protect the ones we have already.
Governments of all levels and corporations should actively combat deforestation.
2. Work Together
Reforestation can be a truly daunting project, but at its core it needs to engage with local communities and the people who live and work with the trees themselves. Research suggests that many attempts at reforestation fail simply because they don't involve local communities.
Local groups benefit from tree planting and forest maintenance, economically through the creation of jobs, as well as in terms of health. They are also subject experts in the forests themselves and the issues facing them.
Mulanje Cedar, Malawi's National Tree (2015) by Morgan TrimbleBotanic Gardens Conservation International
Mulanje cedar
Malawi’s national tree, the Mulanje cedar, only occurs naturally on Mulanje Mountain. Due to overexploitation and fire no mature individuals are left. BGCI's project in Malawi has been restoring the Mulanje cedar on the mountain with the support of local communities.
Restoration benefits local livelihoods
The project to conserve the Mulanje cedar resulted in more than 500,000 trees being planted and created more than 1,000 jobs for the local community. Over 200 people were trained in nursery management and enterprise development to manage 10 community plant nurseries.
3. Maximized Biodiversity Recovery Meets Multiple Goals
Forests, their relationships with humans, animals and other plants are deeply complex. Understanding the best way to address the issues can be difficult.
However, this inter-connectivity means that improving the health of the forest improves the health of its neighbours and inhabitants.
Nursery managers ready to plant potted seedlings (2015) by Morgan TrimbleBotanic Gardens Conservation International
Reforestation projects should have multiple related goals
Such as increasing biodiversity, helping local economies and reducing carbon emissions. There can be trade-offs, but priorities should be agreed by stakeholders at the start of the project, based on science, the environment, and the needs of the local communities.
4. Select Appropriate Areas for Restoration
Not every plot of land is made equal when it comes to reforestation.
Some wild areas like wetlands, peatlands, and grasslands contribute a great deal to carbon sequestration. Tree planting here could displace biodiversity and do more harm than good.
Target existing forests
Target areas that either connect existing forests, or restore lost forests. This helps to improve their overall size and health.
5. Use Natural Regeneration Wherever Possible
This is where a forest or wooded area regrows after an area of land is abandoned. Or, when a forest begins to revive after degradation. It’s cheaper, easier, and in many cases, more effective. Carbon capture in naturally regenerated land can be 40 times greater than in plantations.
Sometimes, it's best to let nature do the work for you.
Different levels of natural regeneration
The easiest is passive restoration, where no human intervention is involved. Low intervention includes protecting a region from fires, and selectively reintroducing native flora and fauna.
But there are other cases, intermediate and high intervention, that involve more work.
The amount of intervention required and whether natural regeneration is possible will vary depending on the time since the area was cleared, land-use since clearance, and distance from remaining forest patches.
6. Select Species to Maximize Biodiversity
Sometimes, natural regeneration is not possible and human intervention is needed. In cases like this it's essential to pick the right kinds of trees. Only native species should be introduced. A good mix of species, including rare and endangered trees should be used.
Reintroducing high biodiversity and resilience to a forest
High biodiversity helps attract pollinators and restore habitats for a larger array of animals. Forests will also be more resistant to diseases, fires, and extreme weather.
Avoid invasive species at all costs!
Reforestation: not just getting trees in the ground
In just two years, a BGCI project in Uganda with Tooro Botanical Gardens produced more than 260,000 seedlings of 100 indigenous species to support genetically and species diverse forest restoration.
Reforestation is about providing the building blocks of an ecosystem.
7. Use Resilient Plant Material
As climate change continues to impact ecosystems around the world, the best tree species for reforestation are those that are resilient. Pick seeds and seedlings with a healthy amount of genetic diversity. This can make the population less susceptible to pests and climate change.
Make note of how the region is expected to change in the future, and try to choose tree species that anticipate the climate reality.
8. Plan Ahead for Infrastructure, Capacity and Seed Supply
Source trees, seeds and seedlings locally where possible. Establish a good, reliable supply chain for the reforestation project and begin this planning stage well before the beginning of the project.
Local knowledge
Work with local communities, and train workers on the best practices for seed collecting, storing, planting, etc. Employing people from the area helps bolster local economies, and makes use of their valuable experience and expertise in the region.
9. Learn by Doing
Start every project by reviewing scientific literature about the tree species and the region where they will be grown. Consult with the communities themselves so they can aid the process and help you pick the right species and places for them.
Start small
Run small-scale trials before engaging in the process fully. It's essential to test the trees' effectiveness in the region before deploying all your resources. Monitor your work at every stage of the process. Check how the ecosystem is recovering; change your processes as needed.
10. Make it Pay
Forest restoration isn't a cheap process. However, there are many different ways to bring new income streams into a project, and help benefit the different stakeholders involved. Consider selling sustainably-produced forest products, or setting up an ecotourism operation.
There are many ecological benefits to reforestation, but fostering a forest's health and biodiversity can also help local economies.
We designed these golden rules with a few things in mind
Including the importance of local and Indigenous knowledge, and bringing money into the communities involved.
We've taken lessons both from modern scientific research into the field, and success stories within it.
However, even with these tips in mind, it's worth noting that this process is a tricky one with many moving parts and solutions that will have to be local.
Irrespective of how you're involved in this reforestation process, you can help global efforts by following these golden rules and supporting the right kind of reforestation.
Global network
BGCI and our global network spearheads several initiatives to conserve trees and restore forests, whilst sticking to the best practices. These include the Ecological Restoration Alliance of Botanic Gardens, and our Tree Conservation Programme.
The Global Tree Assessment (GTA), the first-ever conservation assessment of all the world’s known tree species, will provide a conservation road map that will put our 10 Golden Rules to good use!
Story originally published on the World Economic Forum Agenda blog
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