What are high-quality forest restoration projects?

Restoring nature is our best chance for overcoming the climate and biodiversity crises of our time. Today, funders are looking to make informed, impactful investments in nature-based solutions. To explore the common challenges and nuances of quality forest restoration projects, Morfo organized a webinar that brought together expertise and experiences from three leading organizations: Morfo, Terraformation and Restor. Here are our main takeaways from this important discussion.

A good investment benefits local communities

The success of forest restoration projects typically depends on the right interplay between different stakeholders: local communities, investors, project developers, implementers, and global institutions. But above all, restoration projects are most likely to last if informed by - and rooted in - the local context. That means a good investment is tailored to the relevant socio-ecological dynamics, including the somewhat subtle needs and aspirations of local communities, as well as the ecological potential and appropriateness of forest restoration in a given area. So in short, a good investment benefits project communities, through capacity building, promoting alternative livelihoods, fair value chains, and “ecopreneurship” towards better local economies. Instead of creating dependency on external resources, this kind of investment is sure to boost a project’s scale-ability, resilience, and continuity over the long term.

Checklist for high-quality forest restoration projects

After exploring the types of investment necessary for the success of forest restoration, the guest speakers were asked about what criteria offer investors confidence in projects. A clear consensus could be heard in the panel: transparency is key to building trust in a project, especially in an era dominated by fears of greenwashing. Transparency of what, you may be wondering?

• What drivers of deforestation (and risks) play out in a project’s region;

• The individuals, people and/or organization(s) leading the work;

• Land tenure of conservation, restoration & sustainable land use sites;

• The project goals, approaches and planned interventions;

• Monitoring, verification & reporting of activities and impact outcomes.

Need for equitable finance for nature and its stewards

Acknowledging the recent and important critiques of nature-based solutions, all panelists recognise positive signals, with stakeholders increasingly prioritizing high-quality projects. For example, Morfo and Terraformation observe a crucial shift as partners transition from claims to concrete action, investing in long-term forest restoration projects spanning 20 to 100 years (contrasting with the short-term production cycles typical of unsustainable forestry operations). We recognise positive developments in the wider nature restoration and conservation movement. As an open data platform, Restor offers a diverse suite of geospatial tools to evidence and facilitate change over time. With a community of over 22,000 users and 2,500 organizations, including local NGOs, funding organizations, national governments and global initiatives, we are witnessing an unprecedented momentum for nature stewardship. A global movement that values transparency, collaboration, and the use of comprehensive, globally standardized tools, which we believe are immensely beneficial for our society and planet as a whole.

Access webinar here.