Reforestation projects: advice fromnonprofit Coeur de forêt expert

As part of our special event "L'appel des forêts", we put 5 questions to Alice Gontier, Director of Communications for Cœur de Forêt.nonprofit Heart of the Forest. The aim of this interview? Discovernonprofit Cœur de Forêt, understand (almost) everything about the complex mechanism of a reforestation project and the dos & don'ts to bear in mind before supporting such a project.

Indeed, we hear everything and its opposite when it comes to reforestation and/or carbon offsetting. Is it enough to replant trees to save forests? Is carbon offsetting a utopian practice? How can we be sure that a reforestation project is really beneficial?

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Through her answers, Alice gives you her expert advice on choosing tosupport reforestation projects that really make sense !

Can you explain the Coeur de Forêt ecosystem to us?

Occupying nearly1/3 of the earth's surface, forests are the planet's largest reserve of terrestrial biodiversity. Intimately linked to the cycle of life, they have witnessed the birth of millennia of human civilization, and bear within them the very conditions of our existence.

By providing us with water, food, clean air and shelter, they generate, shape and surround us. They guarantee our future. Yet every year, 10 million hectares of forest disappear at the hands of man.

Because the causes of deforestation are manifold and its consequences irremediable, we have adopted a global, long-term vision.

Cœur de Forêt works on the ground, with local communities, to eradicate forest degradation at its roots, by giving everyone the power to act to preserve them.

Convinced that an alternative to deforestation is possible, we work with local communities to promote economic development that preserves forests and fosters human development. We reject preconceived ideas and don't hesitate to think outside the box in order to build solutions adapted to the reality of the issues at stake.

These are our PRINCIPLES OF ACTION that enable us to go beyond simply planting trees.

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• REGENERATE: We preserve forests and restore forest ecosystems by putting people at the heart of the solution. We promote sustainable forest management that provides the keys to harmonious human development. Because guaranteeing the sustainability of forests also means preserving future generations.

• LISTENING: Our work always begins with a diagnosis to determine the needs on the ground. We take the time to observe the socio-political context, analyze the soil and listen to the local population, so that we can then build solutions in response to concrete local needs.

• ACCOMPANYING: Access to knowledge and practical resources are essential to creating healthy, sustainable ecosystems. We are committed to passing on these keys to sustainable forest management to the beneficiaries of our projects, to ensure that environmental and social justice is accessible to all.

• VALUE: To create a sustainable economic model for all, we support local producers in marketing the products they derive from nature. By valuing their work in a fair and transparent way, we aim to create an alternative to the forced deforestation of which they are the protagonists.
  

Let's get to the heart of the matter: what makes a good reforestation project according to Coeur de Forêt?

Forests are complex ecosystems, home to a diversity of animals, plants and microorganisms. We can't reproduce this richness simply by juxtaposing trees. A plantation of young trees is never equivalent to the lost richness of an old-growth forest, even 200 years from now.

To preserve a forest, we need to act on the causes of its degradation, on the causes of deforestation. Worldwide, 40% of deforestation is due to commercial agriculture. What is less well known is that a further 33% is due to subsistence farming. This is survival agriculture, practised by several billion families around the world, and highly sensitive to climatic hazards. It's a real challenge for food and human security, and one we need to address.

Actions to combat deforestation can thus include training producers inagroforestry andagroecology, raising awareness of environmental conservation among schoolchildren, or developing fair trade channels. This is what we call a holistic vision, which takes into account the context of the project and the people involved. This can only be envisaged in the long term, in line with the long timeframe of forests and changing mentalities.

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A good reforestation project maximizes the benefits of tree planting and addresses the issues behind deforestation for local people.

In concrete terms :

• Choosing the right tree species: Trees must be adapted to the region's climate, soil and environmental conditions. The species selected must not have a negative impact on the environment (soil degradation, invasive or exotic species in monoculture) and must include as many local (native, indigenous), endemic or even endangered species as possible. The benefits sought from plantations must not only respond to environmental issues, but also to social and economic needs.
• Ecosystem restoration: The project must be designed to restore the local ecosystem and all its ecosystem services, such as biodiversity, soil quality and structure, and water quality.
• Community participation: Local community involvement is essential for a successful reforestation project. Local communities and populations must be involved in the planning, implementation and management of the project.
• Long-term objectives: A reforestation project must have clear and measurable long-term objectives. Projects must aim to improve air quality, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, provide habitats for wildlife and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as meet the needs of local populations and food security issues in particular.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Project monitoring and evaluation are essential to measure the project's effectiveness. Measures must be put in place to monitor tree growth, air quality, water quality and the social and economic impacts of the project.
• Sustainable financing: Reforestation projects must be financially viable over the long term to ensure their success. Projects must be designed to maximize economic benefits, such as the production of timber or ancillary or agricultural products, while ensuring that environmental benefits are preserved. This means that economic activities, such as the development of fair trade, are essential.

By following these principles, a good reforestation project can help combat climate change, restore local ecosystems and improve the quality of life of local communities.

What mistakes should you avoid when financing or launching a reforestation project?

Whether to preserve or restore forests, or to offset an environmental impact, tree planting is omnipresent in corporate and government communications. Marketing messages such as "1 product bought, 1 tree planted", "100% offset", "carbon neutral" and all their imaginative variations have flourished in stores. And with good reason, the commitment to plant a tree seems so positive and concrete in the collective imagination. Who wouldn't want to limit their impact on the environment by continuing to buy their favorite espresso or their AR to New York?

Theindicator of the greatest number of trees planted is thus at the heart of the environmental commitments of many companies, to the point of becoming a simple "greening machine" when the project is supported by the most polluting sectors. Demand for "trees to plant" is exploding, and competition is fierce between the players who "sell" these trees. These range from simple intermediaries to real operators of forest restoration projects, associations and companies.

The concern? The criterion for choosing a company generally focuses on the price per tree or per tonne of carbon. The price of a "planted tree" can be as low as €1, or as low as a few cents for some players. So, at that price, can we really plant trees that have a positive impact on the environment and on people? Is a single tree planting enough to preserve forest ecosystems or reduce our impact on the climate? Or is it just a magic wand with no real commitment on the part of the company? As we've seen, planting trees alone won't preserve forests either.

So how do you choose the right project?

• Avoid prices that are too low: at less than €1 per tree planted, there's no guarantee that the project will be followed up. If a region's forests are threatened and the threat is not dealt with, the young plantations financed with your donation will not have the chance to survive for long.

• Insist on transparency: delve into the activity reports and compare the financial statements of the organizations with the figures for trees planted as advertised. If the information seems incomplete, contact them. Check how your donation/purchase is distributed, and avoid greedy middlemen who enrich themselves on the backs of planters.

• Prefer holistic projects: let's prioritize the preservation of existing forests and the fight against their degradation. A number of associations share this vision. With them, you can sponsor trees and support projects with a real impact.
  

Can you tell us a little more about Coeur de Forêt?

We are nonprofit , a French company working for environmental and social justice by restoring the precious balance between forests and people. To protect forests and live in harmony, we have been working for over 15 years to regenerate our relationship with the forest.

At Coeur de Forêt, we believe in a future where forests and people can live in harmony. We want to rethink relationships based on cooperation and solidarity, rather than human exploitation and the depletion of natural resources. We promote sustainable forest management that provides the keys to harmonious human development.

Guaranteeing the sustainability of our forests also means preserving them for future generations.

How can we support your nonprofit ?

There are many ways to support us, whether as a company or an individual. The most useful, of course, is a donation. Whether made by private individuals or by a company in the form of a sponsorship, it ensures the financial security ofnonprofit and enables us to carry out all our actions. As we've seen throughout this article, moving away from tree- or carbon-offset-based funding is a strategic and impactful way of supporting grassroots associations like Coeur de Forêt. It's the best way to enable the development of good reforestation and forest preservation projects.

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👉To find out more about our projects and make a donation tononprofit, visit this page!

Finally, there are many other ways to get involved with us: as a volunteer on strategic missions (communication, fund-raising, administration, etc.), as a company, enabling our employees to carry out long-term skills-based sponsorship missions (several days to several months) and training all our employees in the issues of deforestation and climate change are fundamental actions that enable us to increase our impact.

Would you like to get your employees involved in forest protection initiatives? Thanks to the Wenabi platform, you can enable your teams to commit to different missions with partner associations, and easily track their involvement!

Contact us to exchange 😊