As restoration is in itself an intricate network of interrelated actions, it makes sense that the best option to achieve long-term success is to use a holistic approach towards ecosystem restoration. With this in mind, Plant-for-the-Planet has developed restoration/reforestation guidelines covering biological, social, and economic aspects to ensure high quality projects are supported by our platform.
These standards build on academic literature and the International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration (by SER et al.), the Principles for Ecosystem Restoration to Guide the United Nations Decade 2021–2030 (by UN Environment Program, FAO et al.), and the Road to Restoration (by WRI & FAO).
We would love to receive any comments, feedback, or suggestion.
Please feel free to write to samantha.davalos@plant-for-the-planet.org anytime.
United Nations Environment Programme
Biological Standards
- Original ecosystem type
- Vegetation present in the area:
a. grass/ bare ground
b. some vegetation/ shrub
c. established vegetation (native or invasive) - Unintended negative consequences
- Project context
- No conversion of non-forest ecosystems to forest
- No cutting of native forest (Cutting of invasive/ non-native species is allowed to improve ecosystem health)
- Potential negative consequences of planting considered (e.g., no planting of fast growing non-native species in agroforestry projects in arid systems where they could disrupt the water table,; planting high densities of evergreen trees where ecosystems are deciduous dominated).
- Project is developing opportunities to contribute to regional conservation goals
VERIFIED
Satellite imagery of the area before and after starting the project.
PLAUSIBILITY CHECK
If the project has not started, pictures taken from the field.
SELF-REPORTED
Evaluation of vegetation present at site before the project starts (i.e., List of plant species present, indicating if native, non-native or invasive, general description of site and surrounding landscape).
VERIFIED
Copy of the plan or interview with the project leaders
Selection of species planted
Number of species (% of each species)
If productive objectives (i.e., agroforestry) - % of introduced species)
Not planting any invasive species to the region
For restoration projects:
- Temperate: 2 species minimum
- Tropical:8 species minimum
- Mangroves: 1 species minimum
- No species should represent more than 50% of total. * In systems where naturally one species dominates this point doesn’t apply.
For agroforestry projects:
- Temperate: 2 species minimum
- Tropical : 5 species minimum. If the area is smaller than 1ha at least 3 species planted.
- No species should represent more than 60%
For restoration projects:
Maximum 10% of non-native species
For agroforestry projects:
- Maximum 70% of non-native species.
- No planting high densities of evergreen/coniferous species in areas where they naturally persist in low abundances. No planting species that may have negative effects in the ecosystem.
In tropical forest: No conversion of deciduous dominated forest into an evergreen dominated forest.
In temperate forest: No conversion of broadleaved forest into coniferous forest.
For restoration projects:
- Temperate: more than 4 species
- Tropical: more than 15 species.
- Mangroves: more than 2 species
- Species planted in similar quantities, except in systems where one or two species naturally dominate.
For agroforestry projects:
- Temperate: more than 2 species
- Tropical: more than 8 species. If the area is smaller than 1h at least 5 species planted.
- No species should represent more than 40%
For restoration projects:
Only native species
(naturalized species are allowed)
For agroforestry projects:
Maximum 50% of non-native species.
VERIFIED
List of species planted
VERIFIED
Field visits and, where applicable, verify no visual dominance of any species in the field
For restoration projects:
Minimum 80% of seeds from native species
For agroforestry projects:
Seeds from native species collected following appendix 1 of SER guidelines. Seeds from non-native species bought from a certified/reliable/known source
Native seeds collected by, or bought to community members.
For restoration:
Seeds origin collection following appendix 1 of SER guidelines and ensuring genetic diversity.
SELF-REPORTED
TreeMapper (ID of species)
Field and nursery visits
3. Planting
- Does the system require tree planting?
- Density – number of trees per ha - % of each species
- Height / age of plants
- No afforestation or planting in areas that have rapid rates of natural regeneration. Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) is allowed.
- Max. 10,000 trees /ha (high density only permissible if survival rates are low)
- ~ 30cm height / 3 months in nursery
- Max. 10,000 (tree species planted in mixtures)
- ~ 30cm height / 6 months in nursery
SELF-REPORTED
- TreeMapper – pictures of plants.
- Site visits
PLAUSIBILITY CHECK
Questionnaire
- Method of clearing
- Removal of trees
Width of stems removed
- Fire, only allowed If the system is fire adapted. If using fire, have a clear protocol.
- No cutting existing trees (unless invasive)
PLAUSIBILITY CHECK
Site visits
4. After Planting
PLAUSIBILITY CHECK
- Questionnaire
- Site visits
For areas where work has been done for less than 5 years: less than 70% of the area and projects actively working on depleting it.
For areas where work has been done for 5 years or more: Less than 50% OR no clear visual dominance
*Planting of invasive species in agroforestry systems is not allowed. If there is an already present invasive species useful for the community, the project can maintain it (but not plant more) if special measures to avoid spreading or damages to the ecosystem are being applied.
For areas where work has been done for less than 5 years: less than 50% or no clear visual dominance.
For areas where work has been done for 5 years or more: less than 25%, whenever possible, or present just in small patches/almost eradicated or not representing a threat to the ecosystem.
VERIFIED
Site visits - random visit of at least 5 points
All trees planted by the project, not just the ones funded through donation through our site, must be registered with TreeMapper.
Max. 12 months delay in updating after planting.
All trees donated to the project, not just the ones funded through a donation through our site, must be registered with TreeMapper or provide the specific data.
Max. 8 months delay in registering newly planted trees.
VERIFIED
TreeMapper
VERIFIED
Site visits
Plant uses:
- timber products
- non-timber forest products (NTFP)
For restoration projects:
Max. 10% of total trees every 30 years (*or following documented best forestry practices) and, if for profit, only for community profits or to continue with restoration activities.
For agroforestry projects:
Timber products: max. 30% of total trees after 15 years (*or following documented best forestry practices). If for profit, only for community profits, as a sustainable income source or to continue with restoration activities.
NTFP harvesting following guidelines
All uses must follow:
- sustainable forest management
For restoration projects:
No harvesting of timber products (*or following documented best forestry practices).
Only maintenance activities
For agroforestry projects:
Timber products: Max. 10% of total trees after 20 years (*or following documented best forestry practices). If for profit, only for community profits, as a sustainable income source or to continue with restoration activities.
Top:
Certifications on sustainable management
SELF-REPORTED
Questionnaire
VERIFIED
Copy of land tenure contract or Letter of Intent (a template can be provided)
VERIFIED
Site visits
Social & Economical Standards
PLAUSIBILITY CHECK
Questionnaire
Registered as:
- Non-profit organization
- Cooperative
- Community groups organization
- Other
VERIFIED
Registration certificate / registration number
Agreement on land tenure
If buying; payment for land
Land tenure is clearly defined and without problems/conflicts.
Fair payment for the land
VERIFIED
Copy of land tenure contract / Agreement
SELF REPORTED
Agreement / Code of Ethics
SELF-REPORTED
Questionnaire
PLAUSIBILITY CHECK
Questionnaire / site visits
Minimum needs for security protection of the area (human threats)
Working with community, women, and indigenous groups (if applicable).
Local community members have leadership roles in the restoration design and decision making process.
SELF-REPORTED
Questionnaire
Agreement / Code of Ethics
At least 60% of employees are local
At least 30% of leadership roles are filled by community members
SELF-REPORTED
Questionnaire
- Salary⁹
- Worker rights / benefits Training / other services
- Funding allocation between groups overseeing/implementing the project
- Minimum wages above country poverty line
- Healthcare, social security provided
- Funds equally allocated between the projects groups
SELF-REPORTED
Agreement / Code of Ethics
3. Organization Structure
Project funding
- Government
- Donations
- Business model / selling products
Economic plan / Budget needed for 1 year and planned funding sources (more than one)
Tree price calculation must be included
VERIFIED
Budget Plan
VERIFIED
Financial reports
These standards were developed based on scientific works and international guidelines (SER, IUCN, UN, FAO).
Projects must meet at least 27 of the 32 minimum standards (including all of the 10 obligatory standards) to receive donations via the Plant-for-the-Planet platform.
To qualify as a top project, you must meet at least 12 of the 20 top standards.
If you don’t meet all the requirements but you have good reasons and want to be part of the platform, feel free to reach out to us and share your project details. We will evaluate these and determine if certain exceptions to certain standards can be made depending on the project objectives, approach, and community benefits.
To continuously improve our standards, they are reviewed at least once a year or whenever a major change is needed due to new scientific insights or evidence. Any adjustments to the standards have to be approved by the Restoration Project Review Board. For new projects joining the platform, the new standards are effective immediately. For all projects already on the platform, their review status stays valid for at least two years. After announcing changes to the standards, all projects already on the platform get six months to adjust to the new standards. In case they are up for a review after those six months (i.e. the two years that a review stays valid at least are over), they will be reviewed according to the new standards.
We believe collaboration is the best way to achieve a goal, so we invite you to review our standards. In case you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions, please share them with Samantha Davalos, samantha.davalos@plant-for-the-planet.org
We are happy to hear from you.
- Brancalion & Hall (2020): Guidance for successful tree planting initiatives. Journal of Applied Ecology. 57(12). 2349-2361. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13725
- Jackson et al. (2005): Trading Water for Carbon with Biological Carbon Sequestration. Science. 310(5756). 1944-1947. DOI: 10.1126/science.1119282
- Kirschbaum et al. (2011): Implications of albedo changes following afforestation on the benefits of forests as carbon sinks. Biogeosciences. 8. 3687–3696, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-8-3687-2011
- Liu et al. (2018): Mixed-species versus monocultures in plantation forestry: Development, benefits, ecosystem services and perspectives for the future. Global Ecology and Conservation 15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00419
- Moonlight PW, Banda-R K, Philips OL, et al. (2021): Expanding tropical forest monitoring into Dry Forests: The DRYFLOR protocol for permanent plots. Plants, People, Planet. 2021;3: 295-300. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10112
- FAO (2010): Planted forests in sustainable forest management - a statement of principles. https://www.fao.org/3/al248e/al248e00.pdf
- Jalonen et al (2018): Guidelines for Equitable and Sustainable Non-Timber Forest Product Management. Bioversity International, Rome. https://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Guidelines_Marlene_2018.pdf
- Di Sacco et al. (2021): Ten golden rules for reforestation to optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and livelihood benefits. Global Change Biology 27(7). 1328-1348. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15498
- Global Change Data Lab (2021): National poverty line https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/national-poverty-lines-vs-gdp-per-capita?tab=table
Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation | Standards for Restoration Projects | samantha.davalos@plant-for-the-planet.org
