NEW PAPER: Scientists at Kew & @bgci with international partners highlight the issues with large-scale tree planting & set out the ten ‘golden rules’ of reforestation around the 'right tree, right place' principle to maximise the benefits for people and the planet [thread] (1/8)

Protect existing forest: Prioritise the protection of remaining forests to safeguard those carbon stocks, their ecological functions & their biodiversity

Work together: Involve all stakeholders and make local people integral to the project (2/8)

Maximize biodiversity recovery to meet multiple goals such as climate-change mitigation, biodiversity conservation etc

Select the right area: The best area for planting trees would be a previously forested land that has become degraded (3/8)

Use natural forest regrowth wherever possible - it can be cheaper and more effective

Select the right species: a mix of species should be planted, typical of the local natural forest ecosystem and including rare and endangered species and excluding invasive species (4/8)

Use resilient plant material: obtain seeds or seedlings with appropriate levels of genetic diversity

Plan ahead: develop the required infrastructure, capacity and seed supply system well in advance (5/8)

Learn by doing: combine scientific knowledge with indigenous knowledge

Make it pay: develop diverse, sustainable income streams for a range of stakeholders, including carbon credits, non-timber forest products, ecotourism and marketable watershed services (6/8)

Read the full paper in @GlobalChangeBio (7/8) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcb.15498

Want to learn more?

Why not register (it’s free) for the Reforestation for Biodiversity, Carbon Capture and Livelihoods online conference 24 – 24 Feb http://ow.ly/LTb050Dcg9j 

#ReforestationConference (8/8)