10 questions you need to ask before supporting a tree-planting campaign

The guide argues that large-scale tree planting is often treated as a fad and lacks regulation, leading to wasted funds and potential environmental damage. It emphasizes that planting trees in incorrect locations can deplete water supplies and destroy ecosystems like grasslands and savannas. To ensure success, the authors advocate for long-term monitoring based on tree survival rates rather than the number of trees planted, and the active involvement of local stakeholders to prevent social conflict and displacement.

• Poorly planned tree planting efforts frequently fail to achieve their goals because the trees do not survive for a sufficient duration.
• Incorrectly placed tree planting projects can lead to the destruction of biodiverse ecosystems, such as savannas and grasslands, and the reduction of limited water supplies.
• Projects that lack engagement and buy-in from local communities risk causing social conflict, loss of income, and the displacement of people, which may paradoxically increase deforestation.
• Tree planting should not be viewed as a replacement for the urgent requirement to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Impact measurement should shift from counting the number of trees planted to setting and monitoring targets for tree survival over 5, 10, or 20 years.

APA

Soergel, A. A. (2022). 10 questions you need to ask before supporting a tree-planting campaign. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/tree-planting-campaigns-ask-before-supporting/

Chicago

Soergel, Allison Arteaga. 10 questions you need to ask before supporting a tree-planting campaign. World Economic Forum, 2022. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/tree-planting-campaigns-ask-before-supporting/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Soergel |first1=Allison Arteaga |title=10 questions you need to ask before supporting a tree-planting campaign |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=10 June 2022 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/tree-planting-campaigns-ask-before-supporting/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{soergel2022questions, author = {Soergel, Allison Arteaga}, title = {{10 questions you need to ask before supporting a tree-planting campaign}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2022}, month = jun, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/tree-planting-campaigns-ask-before-supporting/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }