Right Tree, Right Place: Masterclass Series Guides Effective Ecosystem Restoration

Planting native tree seeds in Africa faces ecological hurdles

Tree planting initiatives designed to combat land degradation and climate change risk damaging ecosystems if practitioners select the wrong species or locations, forestsnews.org reported. Experts warn that inappropriate tree planting can damage ecosystems, highlighting the need for careful species selection through programs like the Right Tree, Right Place – Seed masterclasses.

Risks of inappropriate tree planting in fragile ecosystems

Planting trees does not automatically deliver environmental benefits and can actively harm native habitats. Paul Smith, chair of The Global Biodiversity Standard, highlighted an instance in Madagascar where tree planting on natural grassland displaced endemic grass species. Such interventions can disrupt delicate ecological balances if organizers introduce invasive species or plant trees in environments where they do not naturally occur.

To prevent these outcomes, organizations utilize digital tools to match flora with appropriate environments. The GlobalUsefulNativeTrees tool, developed by Landscape Alliance, combines native distribution data from Botanic Gardens Conservation International with human-use data from the World Checklist of Useful Plant Species. The database covers 14,014 tree species across 242 countries and accounts for future climate conditions, allowing users to filter selections by location and environmental requirements.

Balancing ecological suitability with local livelihoods

Identifying suitable species represents only the initial phase of restoration planning. Practitioners must also prioritize which plants to cultivate based on ecological benchmarks and community needs. Abrham Abiyu, a tree breeding and seed source scientist at Landscape Alliance, noted that donors, government bodies, and conservation groups often favor competing outcomes, ranging from biodiversity preservation to timber production.

Reference ecosystems serve as tangible benchmarks to guide these choices. However, effective restoration requires incorporating local and Indigenous knowledge from the people managing the land. Jeniffer Kandagor Chemisto, project manager at Solidaridad East and Central Africa, emphasized that community participation ensures that prioritized species align with local preferences for fruit production, woodlots, or soil and water conservation.

Scaling up commercial native seed supply chains

Moving from species selection to actual planting requires functional nurseries and reliable seed supply chains. Thomas Asbeck, technical lead at Unique Land Use, stated that commercializing native species requires understanding the entire production value chain, from seed sourcing to seedling cultivation. The ongoing masterclass series continues to address these logistical hurdles to improve native tree seed availability across Africa.

What is the Right Tree, Right Place Seed Masterclass Series?

What is the Right Tree, Right Place – Seed Masterclass Series?

The Right Tree, Right Place – Seed Masterclass Series is a set of expert-led learning events designed to help restoration practitioners, planners, and policymakers make better decisions about tree planting. The masterclasses are part of the Quality Tree Seed Transformative Partnership Platform, which is convened by Landscape Alliance and funded by the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

How does the GlobUNT tool work?

The GlobalUsefulNativeTrees tool combines data on the native distribution of tree species from Botanic Gardens Conservation International with information on their human uses from the World Checklist of Useful Plant Species. Users can filter 14,014 tree species across 242 countries and territories by location, potential uses, and environmental conditions, incorporating future climate projections into restoration planning.

What organizations implement the RTRP-Seed project?

The RTRP-Seed project is implemented by Landscape Alliance, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, and Unique Land Use. It receives support from the Global Landscapes Forum and operates in cooperation with AFR100.