Motion 001

38% of the world tree species are now assessed as threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Meanwhile, threatened tree species are rarely incorporated into tree planting and reforestation schemes.

Over the past few years, many poorly designed projects have been implemented by a variety of players. Tree-planting brokers have proliferated offering companies and governments the opportunity to offset their CO2 emissions but without the data and expertise to ensure that biodiversity isn’t harmed (see WWF’s Tree Planting by Businesses report). Furthermore, large scale tree planting events have continued to be promoted, established and celebrated by the nature conservation community, often without any indication of the species planted and sometimes indicating the large-scale use of invasive non-native species (list available on request).

The gulf between policy and practice has been highlighted in the scientific literature (list available on request) and there is an urgent need to strengthen implementation of biodiversity safeguards of restoration initiatives and scale up threatened species conservation.

This motion builds on the Kew Declaration, signed in 2021 by 423 organisations (including IUCN members and Commissions) and 2612 individuals from 114 countries, and calling for urgent action to ensure that large scale tree planting does not damage biodiversity.

Specifically, we ask that IUCN works with its partners to:
a. Prioritise conservation and protection of remaining natural forests for the long term;
b. In addition to social safeguards adhere to principles that safeguard biodiversity in tree planting projects;
c. Never plant invasive species nor promote their use, and monitor and control the spread of invasive alien trees from existing plantations;
d. Restore degraded natural forest ecosystems, avoiding tree planting in natural non-forested habitats, such as grasslands, and prioritising areas that improve conservation value;
e. Promote the natural regeneration of forest in suitable areas, and plant trees when required;
f. When planting trees, select a diverse mix of suitable site-specific native tree and understory species, preferably associated with beneficial native mycorrhizal fungi, and use planting materials that are site-appropriate, preferably locally sourced, genetically diverse and resilient to climate change, fire, pests and diseases;
g. Support the development of supply chains of appropriate material for planting, including seed banks, field gene banks, nurseries and seed orchards;
h. Promote reforestation in addition to direct reductions in GHG emissions and not to replace the imperative to transition away from fossil fuels and other climate pollutants;
i. Eliminate incentives and subsidies that promote practices that lead to loss or degradation of native ecosystems;
j. Protect the customary sovereignty, tenure and access rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and ensure their needs, priorities and views as stakeholders are incorporated meaningfully by ensuring Free, Prior and Informed Consent, as related to the restoration programmes; and
k. Scale up the use of tools and best practice that support positive outcomes for biodiversity and people.

IUCN has a unique role to play in safeguarding and enhancing biodiversity outcomes and such a critical issue cannot wait any longer.