At Tree-Nation, we are committed to supporting a broad diversity of high-quality reforestation projects, those that deliver measurable environmental and social benefits to both ecosystems and local communities.
To guarantee this, every project must pass a comprehensive Validation Stage before becoming eligible for funding on our platform. This process is led by our Environment Team, who thoroughly review all documentation and evidence provided by project candidates to ensure alignment with our strict quality standards.
How do we assess projects?
Each candidate project is evaluated against a core set of criteria designed to ensure that it:
-
Integrates scientific research into its methodology
-
Applies innovative and effective reforestation techniques
-
Demonstrates a proven track record or strong potential for scalable impact
To determine if a project meets these standards, we assess it across three key dimensions: environmental benefits, social responsibility, and project management. These pillars ensure that every initiative on our platform contributes meaningfully to ecosystem restoration, community development, and long-term success.
Environmental benefits criteria
To be approved, a project must:
-
Generate clear, measurable environmental benefits and conserve essential ecosystem services and biodiversity
-
Contribute directly to at least one Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), specifically SDG 15 – Life on Land, which focuses on forest conservation, land restoration, and halting biodiversity loss
-
Prioritize the use of native species adapted to local conditions; introduced species may only be used when fully justified and without harm to local ecosystems
-
Select tree species based on ecological suitability and local community interest — whether for conservation, cultural significance, or economic value
-
Enhance biodiversity by supporting diverse plant and animal life
-
Use ecologically responsible planting practices, including controlled and limited use of fertilizers and pesticides
Social benefits criteria
In addition to environmental goals, Tree-Nation projects must contribute positively to the social and economic well-being of local populations. This includes:
-
Ensuring worker safety, fair labor conditions, and technical training
-
Clearly defining the roles of all participants, particularly in educational or volunteer programs
-
Promoting gender equality and the inclusion of minority groups in employment and training opportunities
-
Respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples, including land use, cultural customs, and local governance by providing a community letter of support.
-
Enhancing the livelihoods of local or adjacent communities, particularly through training and job creation
Project management criteria
Strong and transparent management is essential. Projects must:
-
Be implemented on the ground in a defined, verifiable area
-
Provide valid legal documentation proving land ownership or management rights
-
Offer references from local businesses and public or private institutions that can endorse the project
-
Include independent expert evaluations from forestry professionals who have visited the site
-
Submit monthly updates documenting activities and progress in the field
A continuous commitment
At Tree-Nation, we don’t just validate projects at the beginning, we continuously monitor and assess each project while it remains active on our platform. This ensures ongoing alignment with our environmental, social, and ethical principles while reinforcing our commitment to meaningful and lasting impact.
From activation to ongoing monitoring
Once a project has successfully passed the Validation Stage, it becomes eligible for funding on the Tree-Nation platform. Once live on the platform, each project enters our Verification Stage, during which its activities are continuously monitored by our Environment Team.
Explore more about our project verification process here.