Tree maintenance and long-term care

1. Designed for survival from the start

• Maintenance is not standardized — it is defined at the project level

• Survival depends primarily on:

  • Species selection

  • Local conditions

  • Planting strategy

   

These are validated before planting begins.

2. Different strategies depending on project context

Projects may use different approaches to ensure long-term results:

• Active maintenance and replanting

• Overplanting to account for natural losses

• Low-intervention models adapted to local ecosystems

There is no single prescribed method — the approach must be justified and validated.

3. Annual monitoring of survival and growth

• All projects are monitored every year

• Monitoring includes:

  • Survival rates

  • Tree growth and health

  • Field observations and geolocated data

   

This provides a consistent view of how the project evolves over time.

4. Linked to verification and carbon tracking

• Monitoring results feed directly into:

  • Remote sensing verification

  • Carbon calculations

   

Project performance is therefore measured, not assumed.

5. Verification and incentives ensure performance

• Monitoring results are reviewed as part of the verification process

• Projects must submit consistent data over time

At the same time, incentives are aligned with long-term outcomes:

• Payments are linked to verified planting and reporting

• In some project types (e.g. agroforestry), trees provide direct economic value

• In others (e.g. riparian restoration), trees protect critical resources such as water systems that local communities depend on

Performance is therefore ensured through a combination of:

• Verification (accountability)

• Incentives (economic and environmental alignment)